Photo: ChristopherLStewart30 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Humboldt is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Humboldt differs from Tennessee on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Humboldt. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Humboldt
Humboldt is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Humboldt is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Humboldt
1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 3.7% across Tennessee. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (19.7%), vs 13.6% across Tennessee. COPD is also above the state: 11.9%, vs 8.6% across Tennessee. In all, Humboldt runs above Tennessee on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Tennessee 17%), and stroke, diabetes and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Humboldt
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.2%), vs 16.2% across Tennessee. Utility shut-off threats (13.6% vs 9.1%) and housing insecurity (19.1% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 23.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in Humboldt, and more people treating it
49.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Tennessee 39.5%), but 80.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.2% statewide. 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 Humboldt’s likely range.
What’s behind Humboldt’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Humboldt is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #167 of 176 in Tennessee. All seven of Humboldt’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 19.7% of adults, against 13.6% across Tennessee and 12% nationally.
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). Humboldt’s median household income is $52,917; among the 6,759 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Humboldt compares well: binge drinking, 10.5% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 81.5% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Humboldt adults…
Humboldt runs above TN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Humboldt is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Humboldt as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.4% of Humboldt adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Keeping up with care
Share of Humboldt adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Humboldt
1 community health center in Humboldt, 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 Humboldt; ≈ 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.
1.8 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Humboldt 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.
Humboldt and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Humboldt adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Humboldt
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Humboldt is better than Tennessee on 3 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Humboldt’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Humboldt | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31%27.4–34.4 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.1–20.4 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%17.7–22.3 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.6%36.1–50.8 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.7%17.2–22.1 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.5%45.1–53.5 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.8%37.4–46.1 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 38.1%34.4–41.7 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.8–13.8 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.9%10.4–13.4 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.3–6.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22%18.4–25.9 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.4%18.5–24.3 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.1%30.8–41.1 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.5%8.5–12.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.1%35.1–49.3 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.5%12.4–16.8 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%78.3–84.4 | 78.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.8%48.9–56.8 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.7–89 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.4%77.7–82.7 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%58.5–69 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.3%66.5–81.3 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22.1–29.4 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.8%27–35 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.2%21.9–26.6 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.1%17.2–21.2 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.6%12–15.2 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.4%11.2–13.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.4%21–25.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.1%39.1–48.7 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.5%21.6–27.3 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.2%17.9–22.5 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.2–10.4 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.1%11.6–14.7 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%6–7.4 | 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 Humboldt
Is Humboldt a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Humboldt is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #167 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Humboldt?
CDC estimates 43.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.1% and 50.8%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Humboldt?
West Tennessee Healthcare Milan Hospital in Milan, 10.3 miles in a straight line from Humboldt’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Humboldt have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.4–16.8%), 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 Humboldt 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 Humboldt.
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.