Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Memphis as a whole is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Memphis differs from Tennessee on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Memphis. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Memphis
Making ends meet is harder in Memphis
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (30.1%), about twice the Tennessee rate. Utility shut-off threats (17.4% vs 9.1%) and housing insecurity (24.2% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 30.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Memphis is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Memphis is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Memphis
50.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 22.7% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓
Memphis looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 28% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 8% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Memphis has seven hospitals within its borders
7 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Memphis. Getting care ↓
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 Memphis’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Memphis’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Memphis is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #126 of 176 in Tennessee. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 27% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Memphis’ median household income is $51,736; among the 6,373 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 17%, 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 Memphis is healthier than 28% of graded towns, against 8% nationally.
Where Memphis compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 609,647 residents, Memphis is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
30.8% of Memphis adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Keeping up with care
Share of Memphis adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Memphis
7 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Memphis.
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 Memphis; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Memphis adults…
Memphis runs below TN on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
174 miles of trails across 158 parks and preserves
How Memphis adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Memphis 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.
Memphis and the towns around it
Memphis’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | D | 42.1% | 17.6% | 19.9% | CDC place |
| Germantown | A | 27.5% | 10.5% | 8.8% | CDC place |
| Bartlett | B | 33.4% | 12.9% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Lakeland | A | 30.1% | 10.3% | 10.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Memphis adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Memphis
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Memphis is better than Tennessee on 3 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Memphis’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Memphis | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.5%24.9–30 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.9–17.2 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.6–22.8 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.1%37.1–46.8 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.7–19.4 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.2%40.7–47.3 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%33.5–40.3 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.3%24.7–29.8 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.9–13.6 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.1–7.5 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9%8.2–9.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.5–5.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.7%19.4–26.3 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9%17.7–22 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.1%27.5–34.5 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11.2–15.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.5%39.1–48.1 | 38.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.9%13.2–16.7 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%77.8–83.3 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.3%47–53.6 | 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) | 75.8%73.3–78.2 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.5%58.1–66.8 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%72.1–83.4 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%22.1–28.3 | 28.4% | 20.6% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.3%30.6–38.1 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.1%27.8–32.5 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.2%22–26.5 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.4%15.5–19.3 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.5%14.2–16.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.8%28.4–33.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.7%36–43.1 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.9%17.9–21.7 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%18.2–22 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%8.2–9.5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.5%11.4–13.7 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%6–6.9 | 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 Memphis
Is Memphis a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Memphis is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #126 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Memphis?
CDC estimates 42.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 46.8%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Memphis?
Methodist Hospitals of Memphis in Memphis, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Memphis’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Memphis have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.2–16.7%), 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 Memphis 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 Memphis.
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.