Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Atlanta is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Atlanta differs from Texas on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Atlanta. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Atlanta
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Atlanta
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.2%), vs 3.2% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.7%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Atlanta runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Atlanta
48.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 19% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Atlanta, and more people treating it
44.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 80.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 20 miles from Atlanta
The closest emergency room is North Caddo Medical Center in Vivian, 20.1 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, East Texas Border Health Clinic is closer (0.6 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
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 Texas figure falls outside Atlanta’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Atlanta’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Atlanta is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #536 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 28% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Atlanta’s median household income is $60,259; among the 8,994 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Atlanta compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Atlanta adults…
Atlanta runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Atlanta adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Atlanta
1 community health center in Atlanta, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Atlanta; ≈ 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 Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0.9 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Atlanta adults are doing
About the same as Texas 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.
21.3% of Atlanta adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Atlanta and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | D | 40.9% | 16.6% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Queen City | C− | 39.3% | 14.2% | 17.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Atlanta adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Atlanta
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Atlanta is better than Texas on 4 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Atlanta’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Atlanta | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.8%23.3–30.8 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.5–18.8 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.8–21.3 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.9%32.4–49.8 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.6%14.5–19 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.1%39.6–48.6 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%34.8–43.9 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.5%28.1–35.2 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.9 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%7.9–9.7 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.6–11.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19%15.8–22.7 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%14.5–20.2 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.1%27.2–37.9 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.4–16.8 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.5%35.3–49.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.1%11.5–17.1 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.1%74.5–81.4 | 73.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.9%45–52.8 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%83.8–87.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.8–82.6 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.9%57.8–67.9 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.5%63.9–79.8 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%20–27.4 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.2%24.6–32.1 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.2%20.1–24.3 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.3%15.5–19.3 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.9%11.4–14.4 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.8%10.8–13 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.3%19.3–23.4 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8%34–44.2 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.9%18.1–23.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.3%15.1–19.7 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10.1 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.6 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.2–13.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.2–6.8 | 4% | 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 Texas figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Atlanta
Is Atlanta a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Atlanta is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #536 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Atlanta?
CDC estimates 40.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 49.8%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Atlanta?
North Caddo Medical Center in Vivian, 20.1 miles in a straight line from Atlanta’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Atlanta have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–17.1%), against 19.1% across Texas.
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 Atlanta 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 Atlanta.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Texas 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.