Photo: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Tennessee, Jefferson City is healthier than 70% of graded towns
Jefferson City differs from Tennessee on 4 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jefferson City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jefferson City
Jefferson City is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Jefferson City is healthier than 38%. Against the 9,100 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$76K), it’s healthier than 59%. Health Grade ↓
Jefferson City looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 70% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 38% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Jefferson City is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its C+ tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is New Market (C−). Around town ↓
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 Jefferson City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Jefferson City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson City is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #53 of 176 in Tennessee. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 61% 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). Jefferson City’s median household income is $60,638; among the 9,100 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$76K), it’s healthier than 59%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Jefferson City and the towns around it
Jefferson City has the best Health Grade of the 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City | C+ | 35.2% | 11.4% | 16% | CDC place |
| New Market | C− | 37% | 13.6% | 17.9% | CDC place |
| Morristown | D− | 42.7% | 16.9% | 23.2% | CDC place |
| Dandridge | C− | 37.4% | 13.6% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Jefferson City adults…
Jefferson City runs below TN on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Jefferson City residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Diabetes run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Jefferson City
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City; ≈ 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.
1.2 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Jefferson City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Jefferson City 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.
12.7% of Jefferson City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jefferson City adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jefferson City
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jefferson City is better than Tennessee on 2 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Jefferson City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jefferson City | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%18.8–25.4 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%12.8–16.7 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.6%18.7–24.3 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.2%27.6–42.8 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%9.9–13 | 13.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35%31.1–38.7 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%30.2–38.3 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.3–31.3 | 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 | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.7%15.5–22.2 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%13.4–18.7 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26%21.3–30.7 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.1–18 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.8%28.4–41.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.9%9.3–15 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%71.9–79.7 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.5%57.8–65.2 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.4%79.4–85 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.8%71.2–76.2 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.7%57.5–67.7 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%64.1–79.6 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.8%27.3–36 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23.1–30.7 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.1%13.4–16.9 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.8%10.4–13.4 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%7–9.1 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.7%11.1–14.3 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%31.8–41.9 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%13.1–17.4 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.5%16.3–22.6 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.8–8.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%8.8–12 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 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 Jefferson City
Is Jefferson City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson City is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #53 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jefferson City?
CDC estimates 35.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 42.8%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jefferson City?
Tennova Healthcare-Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Jefferson City, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Jefferson City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jefferson City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–15%), 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 Jefferson City more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Jefferson City.
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.