Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Whitwell is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Whitwell trails Tennessee on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Whitwell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Whitwell
Whitwell is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Whitwell is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Whitwell
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.4%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.2%), vs 7% across Tennessee. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.7% across Tennessee. In all, Whitwell runs above Tennessee on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Whitwell adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32.7%), vs 26.6% 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 Whitwell’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Whitwell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Whitwell is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 19% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Whitwell’s median household income is $67,774; among the 10,303 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 2%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Whitwell adults…
Whitwell runs above TN on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Whitwell
No hospital or community health center in Whitwell 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 Whitwell; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Whitwell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Whitwell 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.
15.7% of Whitwell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Whitwell and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitwell | D | 40.3% | 15.6% | 22.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Whitwell adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Whitwell
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Whitwell is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Whitwell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Whitwell | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.8%24.5–33.2 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.1–21.2 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.8%19–24.4 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.3%32.2–48.6 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.6%13.4–17.8 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.5%38–46.9 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.8–44.7 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.2%31.6–38.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.3 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.1–10.5 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.4%10.5–14.4 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.3%18.4–26.5 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.7%18.8–26.5 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.7%26.9–38.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.1–16.6 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39%32–46 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.6%11.1–18.5 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.1–80.6 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54%50.1–57.9 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%80.9–86.1 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.7–80 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.8%56.4–67 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.1%61–78.1 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.6%27.3–36 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.7%25.1–32.5 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.2%16.4–20.2 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.4%11.9–15.1 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%8–10.3 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%9.2–11.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.7%13.9–17.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44%38.2–49.3 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.2%18.2–24.4 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22%18.9–25.2 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9.1–11.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.3–8.4 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%10.9–14.8 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.7–6.4 | 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 Whitwell
Is Whitwell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Whitwell is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 2%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Whitwell?
CDC estimates 40.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.2% and 48.6%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Whitwell?
Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, 16.4 miles in a straight line from Whitwell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Whitwell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.1–18.5%), 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 Whitwell 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 Whitwell.
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.