Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Where Palmer residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Palmer, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Palmer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Palmer
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Palmer
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.5%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (10.6%), vs 7% across Tennessee. Stroke is also above the state: 5.4%, vs 3.7% across Tennessee. In all, Palmer runs above Tennessee on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Palmer
51.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 23.4% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Palmer’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Palmer
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (25.8%), vs 17.3% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
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 Palmer’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Palmer adults…
Palmer runs above TN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Palmer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
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.
Care in and near Palmer
No hospital or community health center in Palmer 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 Palmer; ≈ 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).
How Palmer 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.9% of Palmer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Palmer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gruetli-Laager | D− | 41.1% | 16.4% | 25.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Palmer adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Palmer
Why doesn’t Palmer have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Palmer.
What hospital is closest to Palmer?
Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in Mcminnville, 25.6 miles in a straight line from Palmer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Palmer?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Grundy County Primary Care Center in Coalmont, 7.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Palmer.
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. 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.