Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Ridgely’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Ridgely differs from Tennessee on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ridgely. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ridgely
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Ridgely
1 in 6 adults have COPD (16.8%), about twice the Tennessee rate. 1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.8%), vs 3.7% across Tennessee. Heart disease is also above the state: 11.9%, vs 7% across Tennessee. In all, Ridgely runs above Tennessee on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Ridgely adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (41.2%), vs 26.6% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
Ridgely is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Ridgely is healthier than fewer than 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Ridgely, and more people treating it
51.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Tennessee 39.5%), but 80.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Ridgely is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ridgely is healthier than 0%. Against the 196 towns with similar household incomes ($18K–$30K), it’s healthier than 16%. Health Grade ↓
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 Ridgely’s likely range.
What’s behind Ridgely’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgely is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Ridgely’s estimates fall in the lowest 3% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 22.6% of adults, against 14.9% across Tennessee and 13% 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). Ridgely’s median household income is $24,390; among the 196 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($18K–$30K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Ridgely compares well: binge drinking, 11% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Ridgely adults…
Ridgely runs above TN on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Ridgely adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Ridgely
1 community health center in Ridgely, 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 Ridgely; ≈ 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 Ridgely adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Ridgely 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.8% of Ridgely adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Ridgely and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgely | D− | 45.6% | 21.5% | 27.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ridgely adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ridgely
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ridgely is better than Tennessee on 2 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Ridgely’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ridgely | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 37.5%33–42.3 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.6%19.8–25.5 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.8%20.5–25.6 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.6%37–54.4 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 21.5%18.9–24.3 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 51.5%47.2–55.9 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44.1%39.6–48.9 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 40.6%36.9–44.5 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.4–14.4 | 11% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.5–10.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 11.9%10.5–13.4 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 16.8%14.5–19.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.8%6–7.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.9%23.3–32.7 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.4%23.5–31.6 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 41.2%35.5–47.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11%8.9–13.5 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1%32.6–47.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.5%14.2–21.4 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%75.8–82.6 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.6%45.6–53.6 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%81.8–86.5 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%78.1–82.9 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.7%50.8–62.6 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.8%59.6–76.8 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31%27–35.5 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.3%26.5–34.4 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.8%24.3–29.2 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.7%16.7–20.7 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.5%11.9–15.1 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.5%12.2–14.7 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.8%25.1–30.5 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50.9%45.7–56.4 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 29%25.4–32.9 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.8%21.8–28 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12%10.6–13.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.1%9.7–12.5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 17.1%14.9–19.5 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.6%7.5–9.9 | 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 Ridgely
Is Ridgely a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgely is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ridgely?
CDC estimates 45.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 37% and 54.4%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ridgely?
Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital in Hayti, 14.6 miles in a straight line from Ridgely’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ridgely have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.2–21.4%), 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 Ridgely 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 Ridgely.
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.