Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Rockwood is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Rockwood differs from Tennessee on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rockwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rockwood
Rockwood is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Rockwood is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Rockwood
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.8%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.7%), vs 7% across Tennessee. Stroke is also above the state: 5.1%, vs 3.7% across Tennessee. In all, Rockwood runs above Tennessee on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Rockwood adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.2%), vs 26.6% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Rockwood, and more people treating it
44.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Tennessee 39.5%), but 79.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Rockwood’s likely range.
What’s behind Rockwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rockwood is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, #143 of 176 in Tennessee. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 30% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Rockwood’s median household income is $47,791; among the 4,936 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Rockwood compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Rockwood adults…
Rockwood runs above TN on 8 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.
2.9 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Rockwood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Rockwood
No hospital or community health center in Rockwood 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 Rockwood; ≈ 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 Rockwood 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.
18.5% of Rockwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Rockwood and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rockwood adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rockwood
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rockwood is better than Tennessee on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Rockwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rockwood | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.9%25.5–32.6 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17–21.5 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%18.7–23.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%31.2–46.8 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.2%14.2–18.3 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.7%40.4–48.9 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.6%37.2–46.1 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 38.2%34.6–41.8 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.4–13.2 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9–11 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.8%11.3–14.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.5%18.4–26.9 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.1%19.2–25.3 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.2%29.1–39.2 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13%10.6–15.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.8%32.6–47.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%10.9–15.5 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%75.5–82.4 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.3%50.2–58.3 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.1–87.1 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.6–81.5 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.5%54.4–66 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.3%62.2–79 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.5%27.3–35.7 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.7%23–30.6 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%16.8–20.9 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.7%12.1–15.4 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.3%9.3–11.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.5%16.4–20.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.3%39.4–49 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.8%20.1–25.6 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%18.7–23.5 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 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 Rockwood
Is Rockwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rockwood is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health, #143 of 176 in Tennessee. 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 Rockwood?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.2% and 46.8%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rockwood?
Roane Medical Center in Harriman, 6.8 miles in a straight line from Rockwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rockwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.9–15.5%), 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 Rockwood more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Rockwood.
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.