Photo: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Kingsport is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Kingsport differs from Tennessee on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kingsport. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kingsport
Kingsport is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Kingsport is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Kingsport looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 33% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 10% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Kingsport
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.1%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 7% across Tennessee. Cancer is also above the state: 10.3%, vs 8.2% across Tennessee. In all, Kingsport runs above Tennessee on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Kingsport adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.7%), vs 26.6% across Tennessee. There are 40 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Kingsport, and more people treating it
43% of adults have high blood pressure (Tennessee 39.5%), but 80.3% 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 Kingsport’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Kingsport’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kingsport is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #118 of 176 in Tennessee. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 31% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Kingsport’s median household income is $52,490; among the 6,632 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$66K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Tennessee towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Kingsport is healthier than 33% of graded towns, against 10% nationally.
Where Kingsport compares well: binge drinking, 12% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Kingsport adults…
Kingsport runs above TN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kingsport adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Kingsport
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Kingsport, 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 Kingsport; ≈ 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).
How Kingsport 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.
16.1% of Kingsport adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Kingsport and the towns around it
Kingsport’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport | D | 38.6% | 16.1% | 19.9% | CDC place |
| Colonial Heights | B | 34.3% | 12.3% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Bloomingdale | D | 39.5% | 16.9% | 22.6% | CDC place |
| Sullivan Gardens | D | 39.1% | 15.9% | 21.9% | CDC place |
| Orebank | — | — | — | — | |
| Mount Carmel | C | 38.1% | 13.4% | 17% | CDC place |
Orebank: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kingsport adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kingsport
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kingsport is better than Tennessee on 2 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Kingsport’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kingsport | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.3%23.9–28.7 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.7–19.1 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%18–21.8 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.6%33.9–43.4 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.3–17.8 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43%39.8–46.4 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%36.5–43.2 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37%34.2–39.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.3–12.8 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.4–11.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%8.1–9.7 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.1%10.1–12.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16%13.4–18.7 | 14.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9%17.8–22 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.7%27.4–34.2 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12%10.1–14.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%33.2–41.8 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.9%10.4–13.6 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%77–82.4 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.6%55.4–61.7 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.5–88.5 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.9–82.4 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.8%60.8–68.6 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.4%71.5–82.3 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.9%27.6–34.3 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%22–28.1 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.6%15–18.3 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%11–13.8 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.9–10 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%8.2–9.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.1%14.4–17.8 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.4%37.1–43.8 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.5%18.5–22.5 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.8%17.1–20.7 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.7%8.8–10.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%6.1–7.1 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%10.2–12.3 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.6–5.4 | 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 Kingsport
Is Kingsport a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kingsport is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #118 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kingsport?
CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.9% and 43.4%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kingsport?
Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Kingsport’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kingsport have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.4–13.6%), 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 Kingsport 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 Kingsport.
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.