Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Cookeville is healthier than 74%
Cookeville differs from Tennessee on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cookeville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cookeville
Cookeville is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Cookeville is healthier than 38%. Against the 6,264 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$64K), it’s healthier than 74%. Health Grade ↓
Cookeville looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 70% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 38% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Diabetes and arthritis are less common in Cookeville
Cookeville runs below Tennessee on diabetes (10.9% vs 13.6%) and arthritis (25.7% vs 30.6%). Conditions ↓
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 Cookeville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Cookeville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cookeville is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #54 of 176 in Tennessee. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 68% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Cookeville’s median household income is $51,375; among the 6,264 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$64K), it’s healthier than 74%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Tennessee towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Cookeville is healthier than 70% of graded towns, against 38% nationally.
Where Cookeville compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 7.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Out of every 100 Cookeville adults…
Cookeville runs below TN on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Cookeville
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Cookeville, 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 Cookeville; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
5.5 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Cookeville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Cookeville adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Cookeville 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.
16.8% of Cookeville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Cookeville and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookeville | C+ | 36.5% | 10.9% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Algood | C− | 38.5% | 13.3% | 18.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cookeville adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cookeville
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cookeville is better than Tennessee on 6 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Cookeville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cookeville | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.2%19.5–24.8 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.9–16.3 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.9%19.6–24.2 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.5%29.5–43.3 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.5–12.4 | 13.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.9%30.1–37.5 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%31.3–39 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.7%22.9–28.5 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.5 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.5–7.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 8%7.2–8.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.4%12.9–18 | 14.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%14.3–18.7 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%21.2–29.1 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12–17.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%31.1–43.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.3%11.4–15.2 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75%71–78.5 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54%50.3–57.5 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.6%78.3–82.8 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.9%68.3–73.2 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%58.2–67.9 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%64.6–79.7 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.7%25.6–33.5 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28%24.3–31.8 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.6%16.7–20.6 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%12.2–15.5 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.4%8.3–10.7 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%10.2–12.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.8%15–18.8 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.3%32–40.5 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.4%12.6–16.2 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.4%18.2–22.5 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.4–6.4 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.8%9.6–12 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.5–4.2 | 4.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Cookeville
Is Cookeville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cookeville is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #54 of 176 in Tennessee. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cookeville?
CDC estimates 36.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.5% and 43.3%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cookeville?
Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville, 1.6 miles in a straight line from Cookeville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cookeville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.4–15.2%), 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 Cookeville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cookeville.
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.