Rhea County Courthouse · Photo: Calvin Beale · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Dayton is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns
Dayton trails Tennessee on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dayton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dayton
Dayton is in the bottom 7% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dayton is healthier than only 7% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Dayton
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (22.8%), vs 16.2% across Tennessee. No reliable transportation (12% vs 8.9%) and housing insecurity (16.3% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 22% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Dayton
51.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 24.9% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓
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 Dayton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Dayton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dayton is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns, #133 of 176 in Tennessee. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 19% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Dayton’s median household income is $49,719; among the 5,693 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Tennessee towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Dayton is healthier than 25% of graded towns, against 7% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22% of Dayton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dayton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Dayton adults…
Dayton runs above TN on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Dayton
1 hospital in Dayton, 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 Dayton; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Dayton adults are doing
About the same as Tennessee on each measure.
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.
Dayton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | D | 42.1% | 14.5% | 21.2% | CDC place |
| Graysville | D− | 43.6% | 15.1% | 23.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dayton adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dayton
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dayton is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Dayton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dayton | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.1%23.6–30.7 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.2–19.5 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.6%18.9–24.2 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.1%34.2–50.2 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.5%36.2–44.8 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%34.1–42.8 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.8%29.3–36.3 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.7 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%6.9–8.8 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.7%9.2–12.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.9%20.7–29.6 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.2%17.9–24.4 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.4%26.4–36.6 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.5–17.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.6%34.7–49 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.2%12.5–18 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.7%73.1–80.4 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.1%47.3–55.1 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.9%80.3–85.3 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%72.8–78.1 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.9%53.6–64.3 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%65.5–81.3 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.5%26.3–34.9 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.3%25.5–33.2 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.8%20.6–25.1 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.3%14.5–18.2 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12%10.9–13.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22%19.6–24.4 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.8%35.6–45.8 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.5%15.9–21 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.4%18.7–24.2 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.3–5.6 | 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 Dayton
Is Dayton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dayton is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health, #133 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dayton?
CDC estimates 42.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.2% and 50.2%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dayton?
Rhea Medical Center in Dayton, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Dayton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dayton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.5–18%), 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 Dayton 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 Dayton.
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.