On CDC estimates, Dodson Branch is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Dodson Branch differs from Tennessee on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dodson Branch. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dodson Branch
Dodson Branch is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dodson Branch is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Dodson Branch
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.9%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.1%), vs 7% across Tennessee. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.7% across Tennessee. In all, Dodson Branch runs above Tennessee on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Dodson Branch
22.3% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 17.3% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
Fewer Dodson Branch adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Tennessee. 1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Dodson Branch’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Dodson Branch’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dodson Branch is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 34% of U.S. towns); smoking 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). Dodson Branch’s median household income is $74,375; among the 10,848 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$93K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Dodson Branch compares well: worried about keeping housing, 10.4% (U.S. 12%).
Out of every 100 Dodson Branch adults…
Dodson Branch runs above TN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Dodson Branch residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.8% of Dodson Branch adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Care in and near Dodson Branch
No hospital or community health center in Dodson Branch itself. These are the nearest.
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 Dodson Branch; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Dodson Branch adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Dodson Branch 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.
Dodson Branch and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodson Branch | D | 38.2% | 15.4% | 22.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dodson Branch adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dodson Branch
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dodson Branch is better than Tennessee on 4 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Dodson Branch’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dodson Branch | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.6%22.1–31.5 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.4–20.7 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%17.6–22.9 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.2%30.1–46.9 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.1–17.9 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.5%38.1–47.1 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43%38.4–47.9 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.2%32.4–40.2 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–13 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–11 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%7.8–10.4 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.9%9.8–14.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%3.9–5.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.8%17.2–24.8 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.3%18.3–26.5 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.7%25.1–36.6 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.3–17 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.7%31.9–45.8 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.9%9.9–16.4 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.4–81.8 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.6%55–62.1 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%83.8–88.2 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.1–81 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.7%56.4–66.8 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.3%67.1–82.1 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.8%26.7–35.5 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.6–28.8 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%12.1–15.3 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.8%10.3–13.3 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.7%35.1–46.6 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.9%16.7–23.7 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.8%16.8–23 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.6–11.4 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.4–7.5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%9.3–13.2 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.2–6 | 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 Dodson Branch
Is Dodson Branch a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dodson Branch is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dodson Branch?
CDC estimates 38.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 46.9%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dodson Branch?
Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville, 10.1 miles in a straight line from Dodson Branch’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dodson Branch have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.9–16.4%), 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 Dodson Branch 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 Dodson Branch.
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.