Photo: Garryharvey · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Jackson is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Jackson differs from Tennessee on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jackson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jackson
Jackson is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Jackson is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Jackson
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.3%), vs 16.2% across Tennessee. Utility shut-off threats (14.5% vs 9.1%) and no reliable transportation (13.4% vs 8.9%) are higher too. 24.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Jackson adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32.1%), vs 26.6% across Tennessee. There are 21 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
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 Jackson’s likely range.
What’s behind Jackson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, #141 of 176 in Tennessee. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 17% of U.S. towns); obesity 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). Jackson’s median household income is $53,032; among the 6,797 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 10%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Jackson compares well: binge drinking, 12% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 81.6% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.9% of Jackson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
21 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Jackson adults…
Jackson runs below TN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Jackson
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Jackson, 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 Jackson; ≈ 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 Jackson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Jackson 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.
Jackson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | D | 44.9% | 16.7% | 19.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jackson adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jackson
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jackson is better than Tennessee on 3 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Jackson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jackson | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.7%25.1–30.3 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.8–18.3 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%18.6–22.7 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.9%39.9–50.3 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.7%15–18.6 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.6%40.3–47.1 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.8%32.5–39.4 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31%28.3–33.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12%10.7–13.4 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.5–7.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.5%8.6–10.4 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.3–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.3%16.4–22.6 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%17.5–21.9 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.1%28.5–35.8 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12%10–14.4 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%33.8–43.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.2%11.5–15 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.8–84.3 | 78.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.2%50.9–57.5 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.7–87.1 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.6–80.4 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.7%59.3–68 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%71.9–83.4 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%24.1–30.8 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.1%25.8–32.7 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.3%22.4–26.5 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.4%17.6–21.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.5%13–16.2 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%12.3–14.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.9%23–27 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.2%38.5–46 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.9%17.9–21.9 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20%18.2–22 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8%7.4–8.7 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.3%11.2–13.5 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.5–6.4 | 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 Jackson
Is Jackson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health, #141 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 10%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jackson?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.9% and 50.3%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jackson?
Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Jackson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jackson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–15%), 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 Jackson 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 Jackson.
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.