Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Within Tennessee, Oak Ridge is healthier than 63% of graded towns
Oak Ridge differs from Tennessee on 6 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oak Ridge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 63% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 30% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Oak Ridge has a top-rated hospital
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Cancer runs high in Oak Ridge
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.6%), vs 8.2% across Tennessee. Conditions ↓
Fewer Oak Ridge adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing and utility bills all run below Tennessee. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults 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 Oak Ridge’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Oak Ridge’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oak Ridge is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns, #65 of 176 in Tennessee. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 50% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). Oak Ridge’s median household income is $72,311; among the 10,700 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Oak Ridge compares well: worried about having enough food, 12.9% (U.S. 15%); worried about keeping housing, 10.6% (U.S. 12%).
Care in and near Oak Ridge
1 hospital in Oak Ridge, 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 Oak Ridge; ≈ 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 Oak Ridge adults…
Oak Ridge runs below TN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.3% of Oak Ridge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
53 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Oak Ridge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Oak Ridge adults are doing
About the same as Tennessee on each measure.
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.
Oak Ridge and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Ridge | C | 39.9% | 13.5% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oak Ridge adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oak Ridge
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oak Ridge is better than Tennessee on 5 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Oak Ridge’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oak Ridge | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.6%19.1–24.2 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.2–16.6 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.7–20.7 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.9%33.2–47.2 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%11.9–15.4 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41%37.2–45 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.1%37.1–45.2 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.6%30.5–37 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.9–10.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.5%7.6–9.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.2%8.3–12.3 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.1–18.3 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.7%21.9–29.7 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.4%11.1–16.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%31.5–43.3 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%9–12 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.7–82.8 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.9%57.3–64.3 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%86.5–89.5 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.9–79.9 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.3%61.6–70.7 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%70.2–82.8 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.9%25.3–32.9 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%21.9–28.3 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.9%11.6–14.4 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.6%9.5–11.9 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.3%10.1–12.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.3%32.3–40.5 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.5%14.6–18.5 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.8–18.4 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8.1–10.1 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.6–4.4 | 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 Oak Ridge
Is Oak Ridge a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oak Ridge is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #65 of 176 in Tennessee. 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 Oak Ridge?
CDC estimates 39.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.2% and 47.2%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oak Ridge?
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge in Oak Ridge, 4.8 miles in a straight line from Oak Ridge’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oak Ridge have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–12%), 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 Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge.
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.