Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Rocky Top is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Rocky Top trails Tennessee on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rocky Top. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rocky Top
Rocky Top is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Rocky Top is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, obesity and heart disease run high in Rocky Top
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.9%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 45.2% of adults have obesity, vs 37.6% across Tennessee. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.4%, vs 7% across Tennessee. In all, Rocky Top runs above Tennessee on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Mental distress runs high in Rocky Top
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.3%), vs 19.3% across Tennessee. Depression is above the state too: 33.6%, vs 28.4% across Tennessee. Mind & connection ↓
Rocky Top is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Rocky Top is healthier than 4%. Against the 905 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 39%. 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 Rocky Top’s likely range.
What’s behind Rocky Top’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rocky Top is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 16% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Rocky Top’s median household income is $32,868; among the 905 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 39%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Rocky Top adults…
Rocky Top runs above TN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Rocky Top adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Rocky Top 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.
Care in and near Rocky Top
No hospital or community health center in Rocky Top 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 Rocky Top; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rocky Top 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.
20.6% of Rocky Top adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Rocky Top and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Top | D− | 45.2% | 15.2% | 24.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rocky Top adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rocky Top
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rocky Top is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Rocky Top’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rocky Top | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.7%24.1–31.5 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.3–20.9 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.3%20.8–26.1 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.2%38–53.1 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.2%13.3–17.4 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.8%38.9–47.1 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%37.3–45.9 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.4%32.2–39.2 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.5–13.5 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.9–9.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.9%10.3–13.7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.5%15.4–22.2 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.2%20.7–28 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.9%27.1–37 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.3–16.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.4%32.9–46.1 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%10.2–15.8 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%74–81.1 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.3%49.4–57 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.4%81.9–86.7 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.7%72.8–78.5 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.4%56.2–66.3 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.9%62.5–78.3 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 33.6%29.5–38.3 | 28.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.9%24.3–31.8 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.3%18.3–22.5 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.1%13.4–17 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%10–12.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.6%18.4–23 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43%38.3–48.2 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.6–23 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%19.3–24.8 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.3–10.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6–7.8 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%10.7–14 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.6–6 | 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 Rocky Top
Is Rocky Top a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rocky Top is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 39%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rocky Top?
CDC estimates 45.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 38% and 53.1%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rocky Top?
Lafollette Medical Center in La Follette, 11.5 miles in a straight line from Rocky Top’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rocky Top have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.2–15.8%), 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 Rocky Top 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 Rocky Top.
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.