Health · Sterling
Sterling, GA health
On most measures Sterling looks like Georgia as a whole. It has fewer adults who have had a stroke (3.1% vs 3.6%) and fewer adults with heart disease (5.3% vs 6.1%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for SterlingTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B
Sterling’s Health Grade: B
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Sterling is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns and 77% of Georgia towns.
BSelf-rated healthB+Physical distressB-Mental distressBObesityB-DiabetesBSmokingBExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 59%
Less healthyHealthier
Georgia towns we grade (384)Healthier than 77%
Towns with similar incomes, $65K–$108K (9,431)Healthier than 55%
About what its income would suggest. Sterling does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Sterling could be anywhere from C− to A−.
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 Sterling 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. Sterling 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 Sterling 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
34.5% have obesity
2 better10 close0 worse
Habits
24.7% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
77.2% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
35.3% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
15.1% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
28% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Sterling adults…
36 of every 100 Sterling adults have high blood pressure
Georgia: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 32.6–40.5%
Bars show Sterling; the black tick is Georgia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Sterling, betterSterling, worseToo close to callGeorgia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
24.7% Sterling
GA 26.5%
GA 26.5%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
41.3% Sterling
GA 38.4%
GA 38.4%
Binge drinkshare of adults
17% Sterling
GA 14.5%
GA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
13.8% Sterling
GA 13.6%
GA 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Sterling 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
Sterling 13.4% · Georgia 1 in 8 (13.1%)
Mind & connection
How Sterling adults are doing
1 in 3Sterling adults feel lonely
35.3% · Georgia 37.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Sterling adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.9% · Georgia 19% · too close to call
1 in 4Sterling adults lack social or emotional support
23.8% · Georgia 24.6% · too close to call
1 in 6Sterling adults are in frequent mental distress
17.3% · 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 7
Sterling adults worry about having enough food
15.1% · GA 17.7% · about the same
1 in 7
Sterling adults worry about keeping their housing
13.9% · GA 15% · about the same
1 in 12
Sterling adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.3% · GA 9.6% · about the same
1 in 12
Sterling adults lack reliable transportation
8.2% · GA 9.5% · about the same
10.9% of Sterling adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Disability
Living with a disability
28%
of Sterling adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs12.2%
Thinking or memory14.3%
Hearing5.9%
Errands alone7.9%
Vision4.8%
Dressing or bathing3.6%
Black tick: Georgia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Sterling
No hospital or community health center in Sterling itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERWayne Memorial HospitalJesup · 31.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCoastal Community Health ServicesBrunswick · 4.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
4.8 mi
Coastal Community Health Services
7 sites · nearest in Brunswick
Coastal Community Health ServicesBrunswick · 4.8 mi
Cch - Glynn County Employee HealthBrunswick · 6.9 mi
Cchs Downtown BrunswickBrunswick · 8.3 mi
Cchs DarienDarien · 11.1 mi
Cch - WaynesvilleWaynesville · 18.1 mi
Cchs TownsendTownsend · 19.7 mi
Cch - WoodbineWoodbine · 22.5 mi
7.2 mi
Southeast Georgia Health System- Brunswick Campus
Brunswick · ★★★★★
33.3 mi
Southeast Georgia Health System -- Camden Campus
Saint Marys · ★★★★★
Nothing matches.
! Primary careSterling's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Glynn County · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careSterling's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Glynn County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthSterling's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, MHCA 26-Gateway Behavioral Health Services · need score 18 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 Sterling. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Sterling
| Measure | Sterling | Margin | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 36.4% | 32.6–40.5% | 37.4% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.6% | 32.6–40.8% | 36.8% | about the same |
| Obesity | 34.5% | 28–41.6% | 35.2% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 23.3% | 20.7–26.3% | 24.6% | about the same |
| Depression | 19.9% | 16.8–23.2% | 19% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 12.3% | 9.9–14.7% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Asthma | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2% | 10.1% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7% | 7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9% | 10.4–13.6% | 13.3% | about the same |
| COPD | 5.9% | 5.1–6.6% | 6.5% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9% | 6.1% | better |
| Stroke | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4% | 3.6% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.8% | 11.8–16% | 13.6% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 17% | 14–20.4% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 24.7% | 20.9–29.2% | 26.5% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.3% | 35.1–47.3% | 38.4% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.2% | 73.5–80.7% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 58% | 54.2–61.6% | 59.2% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 86.8% | 85.1–88.6% | 86.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.7% | 61.6–71.1% | 64.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 77.1% | 69.6–83% | 75.8% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 75% | 72–78% | 77.4% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 13.4% | 11.5–15.7% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35.3% | 30.4–40.6% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23.8% | 20.3–27.7% | 24.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.3% | 15.3–19.4% | 16.9% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 18.6% | 16.3–21.2% | 20.3% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.2% | 11.7–15% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 15.1% | 12.8–17.9% | 17.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 13.9% | 11.9–16.2% | 15% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.3% | 7.1–9.6% | 9.6% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.2% | 7.2–9.5% | 9.5% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 10.9% | 9.2–13% | 14.2% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28% | 24.3–32.2% | 29.6% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12.2% | 10.6–13.9% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14.3% | 12.6–16.2% | 14.4% | |
| Hearing | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6% | 6.2% | |
| Vision | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.6% | 3.2–4% | 4.2% | |
| Errands alone | 7.9% | 7–8.9% | 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 Sterling door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Georgia figure falls inside it, we don't call Sterling better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Sterling 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.