Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Rutherford is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Rutherford trails Tennessee on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rutherford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rutherford
Rutherford is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Rutherford is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Rutherford
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.2%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.8%), vs 3.7% across Tennessee. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 7% across Tennessee. In all, Rutherford runs above Tennessee on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Rutherford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Rutherford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rutherford is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 30% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Rutherford’s median household income is $50,667; among the 6,023 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 23%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Rutherford adults…
Rutherford runs above TN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Rutherford
No hospital or community health center in Rutherford 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 Rutherford; ≈ 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 Rutherford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Rutherford 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.
18.4% of Rutherford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Rutherford and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford | D | 38.8% | 15.7% | 20.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rutherford adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rutherford
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rutherford is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Rutherford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rutherford | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.3%22.2–30.6 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%14.9–19.9 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.3–22.4 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%31.5–46 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.7%13.5–18 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 44.1%39.6–48.2 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.8%37.3–46.2 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.2%33.5–40.8 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13.2 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–11 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.6–10 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.2%9.3–13.2 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.5%17.6–25.9 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.1%16.6–23.9 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31%25.5–36.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.7%10.3–15.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38%31.3–45.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%9.2–14.9 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%75.7–82.6 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.6%49.8–57.4 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%84.9–89 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%75.9–81.3 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.1%56.5–67.5 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.9%62.2–78.7 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.5%24.5–32.5 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.1%25.3–33.2 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20%18–22.2 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.1%13.4–17 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%9–11.7 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.6%9.6–11.7 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.4%16.4–20.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.2%35.7–46.4 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21%17.6–24.2 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%16.5–22.2 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.3–10.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%5.7–7.8 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.5%9.7–13.4 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.4–6.1 | 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 Rutherford
Is Rutherford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rutherford is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 23%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rutherford?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 46%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rutherford?
Volunteer Community Hospital in Martin, 16.3 miles in a straight line from Rutherford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rutherford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–14.9%), 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 Rutherford 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 Rutherford.
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.