Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Norris is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns
Norris differs from Tennessee on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Norris. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norris
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Norris
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.7%), vs 8.2% across Tennessee. 2 in 5 adults have arthritis (39.7%), vs 30.6% across Tennessee. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.7%, vs 7% across Tennessee. In all, Norris runs above Tennessee on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 40% of residents are 65 or older (Tennessee 17%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Norris, and more people treating it
45.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Tennessee 39.5%), but 81.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Norris keeps up with checkups
It beats Tennessee on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (82.6% vs 78.1%) and dentist visits (63.6% vs 58.1%). 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 Norris’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Norris’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norris is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 58% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Norris’ median household income is $75,515; among the 10,830 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$94K), it’s healthier than 37%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Norris compares well: lost all teeth (ages 65+), 9.9% (U.S. 12.3%); no health insurance (ages 18–64), 8.1% (U.S. 11%); checkup in the past year, 82.6% (U.S. 77.4%).
Out of every 100 Norris adults…
Norris runs below TN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Norris is an older town: 40% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Norris as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Norris adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Norris
No hospital or community health center in Norris 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 Norris; ≈ 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.
40 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Norris adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Norris does better than 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7% of Norris adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Norris and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norris | C+ | 39.2% | 14.7% | 14.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Norris adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norris
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norris is better than Tennessee on 13 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Norris’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norris | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.6%17–24.5 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13–17.8 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.4–19.1 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.2%31.6–47.7 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.7%12.4–17 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 45.4%40.7–50.2 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45.7%41.1–50.7 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 39.7%35.6–43.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.9 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.7%11.5–14.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.5–9.9 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%7.6–11.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.7–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.9%7.8–12.1 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.8%11.6–18.2 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25%20.1–30.5 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.2%9.9–14.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.1%28–40.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%6.1–10.6 | 11.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.6%79.5–85.4 | 78.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.6%59.9–67 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.1%89.5–92.5 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.6%78.7–84.3 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.1%65.3–74.5 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%71.1–84.8 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.2%24.2–32.7 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.2%20–26.9 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%6.5–8.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4.5–5.9 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%5–6.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7%6.2–8.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.1%31.9–42.7 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%14.9–21.1 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%12.2–17 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4–5.6 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7–9.9 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.1–4.4 | 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 Norris
Is Norris a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norris is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 37%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norris?
CDC estimates 39.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 47.7%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norris?
Physicians Regional Medical Center in Powell, 11.5 miles in a straight line from Norris’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norris have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–10.6%), 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 Norris more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Norris.
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.