Health · Royston

Royston, GA health

Royston differs from Georgia on 14 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (80.5% vs 77.4%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (21.2% vs 14.5%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Royston
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Royston’s Health Grade: C−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Royston is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, and than 80% of towns with similar incomes.

C-Self-rated healthC-Physical distressCMental distressCObesityDDiabetesCSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 18%
Less healthyHealthier
Georgia towns we grade (384)Healthier than 41%
Towns with similar incomes, $26K–$43K (1,106)Healthier than 80%

Better than its income would suggest. Royston 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, Royston 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 Royston 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. Royston 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 Royston 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

Out of every 100 Royston adults…

43 of every 100 Royston adults have high blood pressure
Georgia: 37 in 100 · worse · margin 39.1–46.5%

Bars show Royston; the black tick is Georgia. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Royston, betterRoyston, worseToo close to callGeorgia
Get no exerciseshare of adults 31.1% Royston
GA 26.5%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 36.5% Royston
GA 38.4%
Binge drinkshare of adults 13.4% Royston
GA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 16.6% Royston
GA 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Royston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.

80%
Yearly checkup
GA 78%
55%
Dentist visit
GA 59%
87%
Cholesterol check
GA 87%
66%
Colon screening
GA 64%
72%
Mammogram
GA 76%
81%
Taking BP meds
GA 77%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Royston 13.2% · Georgia 1 in 8 (13.1%)
Mind & connection

How Royston adults are doing

1 in 3Royston adults feel lonely
38% · Georgia 37.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Royston adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.4% · Georgia 19% · too close to call
1 in 4Royston adults lack social or emotional support
24.3% · Georgia 24.6% · too close to call
1 in 5Royston adults are in frequent mental distress
18.3% · 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 5
Royston adults worry about having enough food
19.2% · GA 17.7% · about the same
1 in 7
Royston adults worry about keeping their housing
14.8% · GA 15% · about the same
1 in 10
Royston adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.9% · GA 9.6% · about the same
1 in 10
Royston adults lack reliable transportation
10.1% · GA 9.5% · about the same

16.4% of Royston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.

Disability

Living with a disability

36.2%

of Royston adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs19%
Thinking or memory16.6%
Hearing8.7%
Errands alone11.2%
Vision6.9%
Dressing or bathing5.4%

Black tick: Georgia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Getting care

Care in and near Royston

1 community health center in Royston, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERTy Cobb Regional Medical CenterLavonia · 11 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyPiedmont Athens Regional Medical Center★★★★★ · 27.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMedlink GeorgiaRoyston · 0.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.8 mi
Medlink Georgia
8 sites · nearest in Royston
Sliding-scale feesIn Royston
Directions to nearest
11 mi
Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center
Lavonia · ★★★★★
ER
18.1 mi
Elbert Memorial Hospital
Elberton · not rated
Rural critical access
25.1 mi
Stephens County Hospital
Toccoa · ★★★★★
ER
27.8 mi
Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center
Athens · ★★★★★
! Primary careRoyston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Franklin County · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careRoyston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Franklin County · need score 19 of 25
! Mental healthRoyston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, MHCA 3/Avita Community Partners · need score 16 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 Royston. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Royston
MeasureRoystonMarginGeorgia
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure42.9%39.1–46.5%37.4%worse
High cholesterol40.4%36.6–44.1%36.8%about the same
Obesity38.7%31.7–45.7%35.2%about the same
Arthritis31.7%28.7–34.6%24.6%worse
Depression21.4%18.4–24.4%19%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)21.2%17.8–24.3%14.5%worse
Asthma11%9.8–12.2%10.1%about the same
Cancer (not skin)9.3%8.5–10.2%7%worse
Diabetes15.5%13.6–17.3%13.3%worse
COPD9.5%8.1–11%6.5%worse
Heart disease8.3%7.4–9.3%6.1%worse
Stroke4.8%4.3–5.4%3.6%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.6%14.1–19.2%13.6%worse
Binge drink13.4%11.2–15.6%14.5%about the same
Get no exercise31.1%26.7–35.6%26.5%worse
Sleep under 7 hours36.5%30.8–41.8%38.4%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup79.6%76.6–82.3%78.4%about the same
Dentist visit55.3%52–58.3%59.2%worse
Cholesterol check86.5%84.7–88.3%86.8%about the same
Colon screening66.4%61.9–70%64.4%about the same
Mammogram72.4%65–78%75.8%about the same
Taking BP meds80.5%78.4–82.5%77.4%better
No health insurance13.2%10.8–15.8%13.1%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely38%33.5–42.5%37.3%about the same
Lack emotional support24.3%21.2–27.4%24.6%about the same
Frequent mental distress18.3%16.4–20.3%16.9%about the same
Fair or poor health24.6%21.4–27.9%20.3%worse
Frequent physical distress16.7%14.7–18.6%13.5%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity19.2%16.2–22.3%17.7%about the same
Housing insecurity14.8%12.7–16.8%15%about the same
Utility shut-off threat9.9%8.6–11.2%9.6%about the same
No reliable transportation10.1%8.8–11.4%9.5%about the same
Receive SNAP16.4%13.6–19.3%14.2%
Disability
Any disability36.2%32.2–40.6%29.6%
Walking or climbing stairs19%16.4–21.5%14%
Thinking or memory16.6%14.6–18.8%14.4%
Hearing8.7%7.8–9.8%6.2%
Vision6.9%6–7.8%5.6%
Dressing or bathing5.4%4.7–6.2%4.2%
Errands alone11.2%9.7–12.7%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 Royston door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Georgia figure falls inside it, we don't call Royston better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Royston 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.

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