Photo: Dclemens1971 · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Walden is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
Walden differs from Tennessee on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Walden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Walden
Walden is an active town
Only 15.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.6% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
Walden keeps up with checkups
It beats Tennessee on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (72.6% vs 58.1%) and cholesterol checks (91.4% vs 86.6%). Checkups ↓
Few Walden adults smoke
10.3% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 17.3% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
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 Walden’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Walden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walden is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 97% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 79%.
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). Walden’s median household income is $124,493; among the 5,113 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($93K–$156K), it’s healthier than 82%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
5.9 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Walden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Walden adults…
Walden runs below TN on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Walden
No hospital or community health center in Walden 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 Walden; ≈ 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 Walden adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Walden 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.
4.9% of Walden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Walden and the towns around it
Walden’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden | A | 29% | 10.1% | 10.3% | CDC place |
| Fairmount | A | 29.5% | 9.8% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Signal Mountain | A+ | 27.7% | 9.9% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| Falling Water | B+ | 32.5% | 12.1% | 14.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Walden adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Walden
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Walden is better than Tennessee on 22 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Walden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Walden | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.9%11.7–16.5 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.1%9.6–12.7 | 14.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29%24.8–33.7 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.1%8.6–11.8 | 13.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35.5%32.1–39.2 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%35–42.1 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.6%26.6–32.8 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.9–11.3 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.6%9.6–11.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.3–6.9 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.8%4.7–6.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.4%6.7–10.2 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.3%8.2–12.7 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.5%12.7–18.7 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%13.2–18.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9%28.6–37.5 | 38.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.2%4.9–7.7 | 11.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%76.8–82.4 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.6%69.6–75.4 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.4%90–92.6 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%74.7–80.4 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.3%67.2–75.4 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%72.5–84.2 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.4–28.7 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%18.1–23.9 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.7%5.8–7.6 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.6%4–5.2 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.9%4.3–5.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.6%22.2–29.4 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.7%8.9–12.7 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.6%10–13.5 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6–7.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.6–3.6 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.7%4.8–6.6 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2–2.8 | 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 Walden
Is Walden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walden is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 82%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Walden?
CDC estimates 29% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.8% and 33.7%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Walden?
Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Walden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Walden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.7%), 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 Walden more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Walden.
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.