Photo: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Morristown is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Morristown trails Tennessee on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Morristown. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Morristown
Morristown is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Morristown is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Morristown
47.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 24.9% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Morristown
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.1%), vs 16.2% across Tennessee. No reliable transportation (13% vs 8.9%) and utility shut-off threats (12.8% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 25.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Morristown’s likely range.
What’s behind Morristown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morristown is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #171 of 176 in Tennessee. All seven of Morristown’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is mental distress: 22% of adults, against 19.3% across Tennessee and 15.9% nationally.
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). Morristown’s median household income is $47,917; among the 4,983 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 5%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Morristown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
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 Morristown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Morristown adults…
Morristown runs above TN on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Morristown
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Morristown, 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 Morristown; ≈ 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.
11 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
How Morristown adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Morristown 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.
Morristown and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morristown | D− | 42.7% | 16.9% | 23.2% | CDC place |
| Russellville | — | — | — | — | |
| Jefferson City | C+ | 35.2% | 11.4% | 16% | CDC place |
Russellville: 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 Morristown adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Morristown
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Morristown is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Morristown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Morristown | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.7%28.4–35.2 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.4–21.7 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22%19.7–24.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.7%34.9–50.9 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.9%14.8–19.1 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.5%38.3–46.7 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%36.4–45.1 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.5%30.2–36.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%8.1–9.9 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.2%10.9–13.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.9%20.9–29.2 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.2%20.4–26.1 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.2%31.4–41.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.6%10.3–15.2 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.4%35.4–49.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.8%18.4–23.3 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.8%73.2–80.2 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.2%43.3–51.1 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%80.9–84.8 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%73.4–78.6 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.1%51.5–62.6 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.8%62.2–78.7 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.3%26.3–34.5 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.4%24.7–32.3 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.1%22.8–27.4 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.2%16.3–20.3 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13%11.9–14.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.6%23.2–28.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.4%40.8–50.2 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.4%20–25 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.7%20.4–25.1 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.9–11.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9%8.2–9.9 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.7%12.4–15.1 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.8–6.9 | 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 Morristown
Is Morristown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morristown is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #171 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 5%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Morristown?
CDC estimates 42.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.9% and 50.9%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Morristown?
Morristown Hamblen Hospital Association in Morristown, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Morristown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Morristown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 18.4–23.3%), 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 Morristown more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Morristown.
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.