Health · Nicholson
Nicholson, GA health
On most measures Nicholson looks like Georgia as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more smokers (17.4% vs 13.6%) and more adults with COPD (8% vs 6.5%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for NicholsonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Nicholson’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Nicholson is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, and than 64% of towns with similar incomes.
CSelf-rated healthCPhysical distressCMental distressBObesityB-DiabetesC-SmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 32%
Less healthyHealthier
Georgia towns we grade (384)Healthier than 54%
Towns with similar incomes, $39K–$65K (6,063)Healthier than 64%
Better than its income would suggest. Nicholson is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Nicholson could be anywhere from D to B+.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Georgia ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Nicholson with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Nicholson uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Nicholson compares with Georgia
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
34.6% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
28.6% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
76.3% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
37.4% feel lonely
0 better4 close1 worse
Everyday needs
17.3% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
32.5% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Nicholson adults…
36 of every 100 Nicholson adults have high blood pressure
Georgia: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 31.6–39.8%
Bars show Nicholson; the black tick is Georgia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Nicholson, betterNicholson, worseToo close to callGeorgia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
28.6% Nicholson
GA 26.5%
GA 26.5%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
37.8% Nicholson
GA 38.4%
GA 38.4%
Binge drinkshare of adults
16.5% Nicholson
GA 14.5%
GA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.4% Nicholson
GA 13.6%
GA 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Nicholson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Yearly checkup
GA 78%Dentist visit
GA 59%Cholesterol check
GA 87%Colon screening
GA 64%Mammogram
GA 76%Taking BP meds
GA 77%1 in 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
Nicholson 14.9% · Georgia 1 in 8 (13.1%)
Mind & connection
How Nicholson adults are doing
1 in 3Nicholson adults feel lonely
37.4% · Georgia 37.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Nicholson adults have been diagnosed with depression
22% · Georgia 19% · too close to call
1 in 4Nicholson adults lack social or emotional support
23.6% · Georgia 24.6% · too close to call
1 in 5Nicholson adults are in frequent mental distress
18.6% · Georgia 16.9% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 6
Nicholson adults worry about having enough food
17.3% · GA 17.7% · about the same
1 in 7
Nicholson adults worry about keeping their housing
14% · GA 15% · about the same
1 in 12
Nicholson adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.5% · GA 9.6% · about the same
1 in 11
Nicholson adults lack reliable transportation
9.2% · GA 9.5% · about the same
13.3% of Nicholson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Disability
Living with a disability
32.5%
of Nicholson adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs14.8%
Thinking or memory16.7%
Hearing7.2%
Errands alone9.7%
Vision5.7%
Dressing or bathing4.4%
Black tick: Georgia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Nicholson
No hospital or community health center in Nicholson itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERSt. Mary's HospitalAthens · 11.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMedlink GeorgiaCommerce · 7.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.3 mi
Medlink Georgia
6 sites · nearest in Commerce
Medlink CommerceCommerce · 7.3 mi
Medlink Commerce Family Foot CareCommerce · 7.4 mi
Medlink AthensAthens · 10.3 mi
Medlink JeffersonJefferson · 10.6 mi
Medlink Banks Imaging CenterCommerce · 11.2 mi
Medlink BanksCommerce · 11.2 mi
11 mi
Athens Model Neighborhood Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Athens
Athens Neighborhood Health CenterAthens · 11 mi
Athens Neighborhood Health Center, Inc. EastAthens · 11.6 mi
Nothing matches.
✓ Primary careNicholson is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careNicholson is not a shortage area
! Mental healthNicholson's county is a federal shortage area.MHCA 10-Advantage Behavioral Health Systems · need score 8 of 25
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 Nicholson. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Nicholson
| Measure | Nicholson | Margin | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35.9% | 31.6–39.8% | 37.4% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.5% | 32.9–41.5% | 36.8% | about the same |
| Obesity | 34.6% | 27–41.7% | 35.2% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 26.8% | 23.5–29.9% | 24.6% | about the same |
| Depression | 22% | 18.5–25.4% | 19% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14.7% | 11.9–17.7% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.4% | 9.1–11.7% | 10.1% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.8% | 7–8.7% | 7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5% | 10.7–14.3% | 13.3% | about the same |
| COPD | 8% | 6.7–9.4% | 6.5% | worse |
| Heart disease | 6.6% | 5.7–7.4% | 6.1% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1% | 3.6% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.4% | 14.5–20.9% | 13.6% | worse |
| Binge drink | 16.5% | 13.4–19.6% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 28.6% | 23.7–33.5% | 26.5% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8% | 31.6–44.5% | 38.4% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 76.3% | 72.4–79.8% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 58.8% | 55–62.4% | 59.2% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 84.8% | 82.5–87% | 86.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 64.2% | 58.7–69.3% | 64.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 70.7% | 62.1–78.4% | 75.8% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.7% | 73.5–79.4% | 77.4% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 14.9% | 12.1–17.9% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 37.4% | 31.8–43.1% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23.6% | 19.6–27.6% | 24.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.6% | 16.4–21% | 16.9% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 21.8% | 18.4–25.5% | 20.3% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.7% | 13.6–17.9% | 13.5% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 17.3% | 13.9–21% | 17.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 14% | 11.5–16.6% | 15% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.5% | 7.1–10% | 9.6% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 9.2% | 7.7–10.7% | 9.5% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 13.3% | 10.6–16.3% | 14.2% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.5% | 27.8–37.4% | 29.6% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 14.8% | 12.5–17.3% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.7% | 14.5–19.3% | 14.4% | |
| Hearing | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2% | 6.2% | |
| Vision | 5.7% | 5–6.6% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1% | 4.2% | |
| Errands alone | 9.7% | 8.3–11.2% | 8.7% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Nicholson door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Georgia figure falls inside it, we don't call Nicholson better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Nicholson directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Georgia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.