Charleston United Methodist Church and Cemetery · Photo: Spencer Kellum · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Mason is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Mason differs from Tennessee on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mason. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mason
Making ends meet is harder in Mason
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (33.8%), about twice the Tennessee rate. Utility shut-off threats (20.2% vs 9.1%) and housing insecurity (28.5% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 31.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mason is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Mason is healthier than 10%. Against the 4,938 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 29%. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Mason
45.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 20.1% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓
Mason is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Mason is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, mental distress, obesity and smoking. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Mason
Mason runs below Tennessee on five chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3.7% vs 8.2%), heart disease (4.8% vs 7%) and arthritis (22.9% vs 30.6%). A young population is part of it: only 6% 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 Mason’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Mason’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mason is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 44% of U.S. towns); obesity 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). Mason’s median household income is $47,794; among the 4,938 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Mason compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.6% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 3.7% (U.S. 7.9%); coronary heart disease, 4.8% (U.S. 6.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
31.6% of Mason adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mason adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Mason adults…
Mason runs below TN on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 6% of Mason residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Mason
No hospital or community health center in Mason itself. These are the nearest.
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 Mason; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Mason adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Mason 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.
Mason and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason | D | 51.6% | 13.9% | 22.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mason adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mason
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mason is better than Tennessee on 6 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Mason’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mason | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.5%23.4–32.1 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.5–16.6 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.9%19.2–24.7 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 51.6%43.2–59.7 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12–15.9 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43%38.2–47.7 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%27.5–35.8 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 22.9%19.9–25.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.8 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.3–5.5 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.9%5.9–8 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.1%16.8–24.4 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.9%18.9–27 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.4%26–37.1 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.8%11.9–17.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 51.3%44.9–59.2 | 38.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.3%12.8–20.6 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.5%71.4–79.3 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.3%41.7–49.6 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.9%78.8–84.5 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68%64.1–71.5 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.9%48.7–59.8 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%66.5–81.6 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.7–28.1 | 28.4% | 20.6% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 38.6%34–43.1 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.8%31–36.8 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.5%25.6–31.3 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 20.2%17.9–22.6 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.1%15.6–18.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.6%28.7–34.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.7%32.4–43.4 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%13.1–17.9 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.7%17.8–24 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6–8 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.4–12.7 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.4–5.9 | 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 Mason
Is Mason a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mason is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mason?
CDC estimates 51.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 43.2% and 59.7%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mason?
Baptist Memorial Hospital Tipton in Covington, 11.4 miles in a straight line from Mason’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mason have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.8–20.6%), 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 Mason 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 Mason.
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.