Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Etowah is healthier than 55%
Etowah trails Tennessee on 7 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Etowah. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Etowah
Etowah looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 37% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 11% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, COPD and obesity run high in Etowah
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.1%), vs 8.2% across Tennessee. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. Obesity is also above the state: 44.8%, vs 37.6% across Tennessee. In all, Etowah runs above Tennessee on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Etowah is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Etowah is healthier than 11%. Against the 2,174 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$49K), it’s healthier than 55%. 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 Etowah’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Etowah’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Etowah is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #111 of 176 in Tennessee. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 26% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Etowah’s median household income is $39,291; among the 2,174 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$49K), it’s healthier than 55%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Tennessee towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Etowah is healthier than 37% of graded towns, against 11% nationally.
Out of every 100 Etowah adults…
Etowah runs above TN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Etowah
No hospital or community health center in Etowah 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 Etowah; ≈ 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.
0.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Etowah adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Etowah 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.5% of Etowah adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Etowah and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etowah | D | 44.8% | 14.8% | 18.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Etowah adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Etowah
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Etowah is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Etowah’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Etowah | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.1%21–27.9 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.7–19 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.4–21.8 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.8%37.8–52.3 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.8%12.9–17 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.9%39–47.1 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.5%37.5–45.8 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.8%32.4–39.3 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.5 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.2–11.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.4–9.5 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%9–12.2 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.3%17.6–25.2 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.6%15.9–21.9 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.3%24.9–34.6 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%10.6–15.5 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%32.4–45.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%9.7–14.3 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.6–82.1 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.8%53.9–61.7 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%84.9–88.5 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.5%75.8–81.1 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.3%58.8–69.3 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.4%61.6–78 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.6%24.9–32.6 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.6–31 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.4%13.6–17.1 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.4–13.4 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%7.1–9.3 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.7–9.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.5%11.8–15.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%36.1–45.5 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.1%16.5–22.2 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%16.2–21 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.5–10.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.8 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.2–12.2 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5.2 | 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 Etowah
Is Etowah a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Etowah is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #111 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 Etowah?
CDC estimates 44.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.8% and 52.3%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Etowah?
Starr Regional Medical Center Athens in Athens, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Etowah’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Etowah have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–14.3%), 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 Etowah 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 Etowah.
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.