Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Within Tennessee, Powell is healthier than 77% of graded towns
Powell differs from Tennessee on 7 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Powell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Powell
Powell looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 77% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 51% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Powell adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around 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 Powell’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Powell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Powell is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, #40 of 176 in Tennessee. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 71% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Powell’s median household income is $82,434; among the 10,584 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$103K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.4% of Powell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Powell adults…
Powell runs above TN on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Powell
No hospital or community health center in Powell 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 Powell; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Powell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Powell 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.
Powell 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Powell adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Powell
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Powell is better than Tennessee on 6 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Powell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Powell | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.2%16.7–21.9 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.3–15.6 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.8–21.2 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.1%28.6–37.7 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12%10.5–13.7 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.3%34–40.5 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%34.2–40.9 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.9%28–33.7 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.8%6.8–9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.4%9.9–15 | 14.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%13.2–18.2 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.4%20–27.3 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.6–18.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.1%30.4–39.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%8–11.5 | 11.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%75.1–81.1 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60%56.5–63.5 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.6%85.7–89.3 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.3%73.3–78.8 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66%61.5–70.4 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76%68.5–82.3 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.2%27.7–34.6 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%22.9–29.2 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.4%11.1–13.9 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6.3–8.1 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.4%9.1–11.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.1%29.4–37.1 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.6%12.7–16.7 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.5–18.7 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.9–5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.8 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Powell
Is Powell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Powell is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #40 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 47%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Powell?
CDC estimates 33.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 37.7%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Powell?
Physicians Regional Medical Center in Powell, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Powell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Powell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–11.5%), 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 Powell more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Powell.
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.