Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) · CC BY 3.0Ripley’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Ripley differs from Tennessee on 24 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ripley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ripley
Ripley is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Ripley is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Ripley
45.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 28.9% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Ripley
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (31.7%), about twice the Tennessee rate. Utility shut-off threats (18% vs 9.1%) and housing insecurity (24.7% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 32.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% 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 Ripley’s likely range.
What’s behind Ripley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ripley is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #174 of 176 in Tennessee. All seven of Ripley’s estimates fall in the lowest 4% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 50.4% of adults, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% 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). Ripley’s median household income is $37,432; among the 1,720 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 6%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Ripley compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.9% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 10.7% (U.S. 15.4%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Ripley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
32.7% of Ripley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Ripley adults…
Ripley runs below TN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ripley
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Ripley, 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 Ripley; ≈ 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.
1.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Ripley adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Ripley 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.
Ripley and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ripley adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ripley
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ripley is better than Tennessee on 2 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Ripley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ripley | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.3%30.7–38.1 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.8–21.1 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.8%20.5–25.4 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 50.4%41.9–59.4 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.6%17.3–22 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.8%44.4–53.4 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.7%34.4–43.4 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.7%31.2–38.3 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13%11.6–14.6 | 11% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.3–7.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.1%10.8–13.4 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.3–6.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.9%24.4–33.6 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.2%21.2–27.3 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.6%33.3–44 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.7%8.7–13.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 48.3%40.9–55.5 | 38.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.4%14.1–19.2 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77.1–83.6 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.7%41.8–49.5 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.6–86.8 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75.4–80.5 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.8%54.2–65.1 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.6%66.1–81.7 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.5–31.5 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.5%29.4–37.8 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.7%29–34.4 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.7%22.3–27.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18%16–20.1 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.1%14.7–17.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.7%29.9–35.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.7%40.8–50.6 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.6%21.9–27.3 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.9%20.5–25.5 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%9.2–11.1 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.1%13.6–16.9 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 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 Ripley
Is Ripley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ripley is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #174 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 6%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ripley?
CDC estimates 50.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.9% and 59.4%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ripley?
Lauderdale Community Hospital in Ripley, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Ripley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ripley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–19.2%), 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 Ripley more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ripley.
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.