Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Martin is healthier than 69%
Martin differs from Tennessee on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Martin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Martin
Martin is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Martin is healthier than 23%. Against the 3,450 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 69%. Health Grade ↓
Martin looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 57% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 23% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Martin
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25%), vs 16.2% across Tennessee. No reliable transportation (15.1% vs 8.9%) and utility shut-off threats (12.6% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 25.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Martin
50% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 20.7% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Martin
Martin runs below Tennessee on cancer (6.3% vs 8.2%), arthritis (24.9% vs 30.6%) and diabetes (11.4% vs 13.6%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Tennessee 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Martin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Martin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Martin is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns, #77 of 176 in Tennessee. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 61% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Martin’s median household income is $43,381; among the 3,450 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 69%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Tennessee towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Martin is healthier than 57% of graded towns, against 23% nationally.
Where Martin compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 32.8% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25.6% of Martin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Keeping up with care
Share of Martin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Martin adults…
Martin runs below TN on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Martin residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Martin
1 hospital in Martin, 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 Martin; ≈ 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.
7.5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Martin adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Martin runs above Tennessee.
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.
Martin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin | C− | 39.4% | 11.4% | 17.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Martin adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Martin
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Martin is better than Tennessee on 7 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Martin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Martin | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.8%21.9–28.1 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.4–17.1 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.9%22.3–27.7 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.4%31.9–47.4 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%10–13 | 13.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.8%30.2–37.6 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.8%29.3–36.8 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.9%22.3–27.6 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.7–13.7 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.7–7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.4–6.7 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3.1–3.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.7%16.9–24.1 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.5%15.1–20.2 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%24.1–33.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12.1–17.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.4%34.5–49.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%10.8–15.2 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.5%71.7–79.3 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50%45.7–53.4 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.8%75–80.5 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.4%67–71.7 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.5%57.6–68.2 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.2%64.3–79.9 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 32.4%28.3–36.9 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.9%25–32.9 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25%22.6–27.4 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.3%15.3–19.3 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.6%11–14.2 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.1%13.6–16.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.6%23.1–28.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.1%36.5–46.1 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%13.4–17.1 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24%21.5–26.8 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.3–8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.5%12.1–15.2 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.8 | 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 Martin
Is Martin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Martin is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #77 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 Martin?
CDC estimates 39.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 47.4%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Martin?
Volunteer Community Hospital in Martin, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Martin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Martin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–15.2%), 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 Martin 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 Martin.
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.