Photo: Shannon McGee · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Clifton is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Clifton differs from Tennessee on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clifton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clifton
Dental care lags in Clifton
45.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 25.2% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓
Clifton is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Clifton is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, mental distress, obesity and smoking. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in Clifton
3 in 10 adults smoke cigarettes (27.9%), vs 17.3% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
Clifton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Clifton is healthier than 5%. Against the 3,524 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 22%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Tennessee figure falls outside Clifton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Clifton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clifton is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 18% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Clifton’s median household income is $43,571; among the 3,524 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Clifton compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Clifton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
Out of every 100 Clifton adults…
Clifton runs below TN on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Clifton residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Clifton
1 community health center in Clifton, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Clifton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Clifton adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Clifton runs above Tennessee.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.6% of Clifton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Clifton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | D | 45.8% | 15% | 27.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clifton adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clifton
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clifton is better than Tennessee on 3 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Clifton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clifton | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.2%24.7–33.9 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.1–18.8 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.2–23.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.8%36.9–55.1 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15%12.9–17.3 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.9%38.2–48 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%31.7–41.1 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.1%22.6–29.6 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.4–10.8 | 11% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.5%8–11.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.2%20.8–30.2 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.9%23–32.8 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.3%25.5–37.2 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14–21 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 48%40.6–55.7 | 38.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.8%14.1–22.6 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.7%68–76.9 | 78.1% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.2%41.3–49.2 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.6%77.6–83.7 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.4%65.3–73.2 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 52.7%46.9–58.3 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.4%61.3–78.5 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%20.7–28.6 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.9%28.9–37.3 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.8%20.5–25.2 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19%16.9–21.2 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.9%12.2–15.6 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.8%10.6–12.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.6%18.3–23 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39%33.2–44.7 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14–19.5 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.9%18–24.2 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.1–8.2 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.6%9.1–12.4 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Tennessee figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Clifton
Is Clifton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clifton is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clifton?
CDC estimates 45.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.9% and 55.1%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clifton?
Hardin Medical Center in Savannah, 17.0 miles in a straight line from Clifton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clifton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–22.6%), against 11.6% across Tennessee.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Clifton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clifton.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Tennessee figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.