Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 2.5Where Townsend residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Townsend, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Townsend. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Townsend
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Townsend
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (13.9%), vs 8.2% across Tennessee. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (10.6%), vs 7% across Tennessee. Arthritis is also above the state: 42.9%, vs 30.6% across Tennessee. In all, Townsend runs above Tennessee on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Tennessee 17%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Townsend, and more people treating it
49.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Tennessee 39.5%), but 84.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Townsend keeps up with checkups
It beats Tennessee on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.2% vs 78.1%) and dentist visits (62.1% 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 Townsend’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Townsend adults…
Townsend runs above TN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Townsend is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Townsend as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Townsend adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Townsend
No hospital or community health center in Townsend 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 Townsend; ≈ 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.
0.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Townsend adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Townsend 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.
9.5% of Townsend adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Townsend and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Townsend adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Townsend
Why doesn’t Townsend have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Townsend.
What hospital is closest to Townsend?
Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, 12.8 miles in a straight line from Townsend’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Townsend.
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. 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.