Photo: Sam Poss · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Signal Mountain is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns
Signal Mountain differs from Tennessee on 24 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 23 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Signal Mountain. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Signal Mountain
Signal Mountain is an active town
Only 14.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.6% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
Cancer runs high in Signal Mountain
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (11.8%), vs 8.2% across Tennessee. Conditions ↓
Signal Mountain keeps up with checkups
It beats Tennessee on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (81.1% vs 78.1%) and dentist visits (74.9% vs 58.1%). 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 Signal Mountain’s likely range.
What’s behind Signal Mountain’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Signal Mountain is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns, #4 of 176 in Tennessee. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 98% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 82%.
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). Signal Mountain’s median household income is $141,008; among the 3,480 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($106K–$176K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
9.3 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Signal Mountain adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Signal Mountain adults…
Signal Mountain runs below TN on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Signal Mountain
No hospital or community health center in Signal Mountain 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 Signal Mountain; ≈ 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 Signal Mountain adults are doing
On 3 of 3 measures, Signal Mountain does better than 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.
3.4% of Signal Mountain adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Signal Mountain and the towns around it
Signal Mountain has the best Health Grade of the 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signal Mountain | A+ | 27.7% | 9.9% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| Fairmount | A | 29.5% | 9.8% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Walden | A | 29% | 10.1% | 10.3% | CDC place |
| Chattanooga | C | 36.3% | 13.9% | 16.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Signal Mountain adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Signal Mountain
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Signal Mountain is better than Tennessee on 23 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Signal Mountain’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Signal Mountain | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.9%10.8–15.5 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%9.1–12.2 | 14.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.4–14.9 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.7%23.6–32.1 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.5–11.4 | 13.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 36.3%32.9–39.8 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%35.6–42.6 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.8%27.8–33.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.6–10.9 | 11% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.8%10.7–13 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.4%4.4–6.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.5–3.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.4%6.8–10.4 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.7%6.8–10.8 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 14.8%12.2–18.1 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12.5–17.2 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2%27.1–35.7 | 38.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%4.2–6.7 | 11.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%78.3–83.6 | 78.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.9%72.2–77.7 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.6%91.3–93.6 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.2–81.8 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.8%70–77.5 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.2%74.3–85.4 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%21.3–27.4 | 28.4% | 20.6% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.7%16.1–21.4 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.1%4.4–5.7 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 4.9%4.3–5.6 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.6%3.1–4.1 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 3.6%3.2–3.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.4%2.9–3.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.3%21.9–29 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.8%9–13 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.3%8.8–12.1 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 2.9%2.5–3.5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.4%4.5–6.5 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.9–2.7 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Signal Mountain
Is Signal Mountain a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Signal Mountain is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #4 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Signal Mountain?
CDC estimates 27.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.6% and 32.1%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Signal Mountain?
Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, 7.2 miles in a straight line from Signal Mountain’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Signal Mountain have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.2–6.7%), 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 Signal Mountain more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Signal Mountain.
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.