Health · Natchez

Natchez, MS health

Natchez differs from Mississippi on 18 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (10.7% vs 13.6%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (83.1% vs 79.7%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing a utility shut-off (16.8% vs 11.2%).

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

Natchez’s Health Grade: D

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Natchez is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, and than 50% of towns with similar incomes.

DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressC+Mental distressC-ObesityD-DiabetesDSmokingD-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 8%
Less healthyHealthier
Mississippi towns we grade (194)Healthier than 40%
Towns with similar incomes, $28K–$46K (1,526)Healthier than 50%

Better than its income would suggest. Natchez is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Natchez could be anywhere from D− to C.
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 Mississippi 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 Natchez 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. Natchez 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 Natchez compares with Mississippi

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 Natchez adults…

52 of every 100 Natchez adults have high blood pressure
Mississippi: 45 in 100 · worse · margin 48.2–56%

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

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Natchez, betterNatchez, worseToo close to callMississippi
Get no exerciseshare of adults 41% Natchez
MS 34%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 39.2% Natchez
MS 38.4%
Binge drinkshare of adults 10.7% Natchez
MS 13.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 19.6% Natchez
MS 16.9%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

85%
Yearly checkup
MS 82%
8%
Dentist visit
MS 9%
87%
Cholesterol check
MS 86%
65%
Colon screening
MS 62%
74%
Mammogram
MS 74%
83%
Taking BP meds
MS 80%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Natchez 13% · Mississippi 1 in 9 (11.5%)
Mind & connection

How Natchez adults are doing

1 in 3Natchez adults feel lonely
36.2% · Mississippi 36.4% · too close to call
1 in 6Natchez adults have been diagnosed with depression
17.8% · Mississippi 19.5% · too close to call
1 in 3Natchez adults lack social or emotional support
30.7% · Mississippi 28.9% · too close to call
1 in 6Natchez adults are in frequent mental distress
17.5% · Mississippi 17.3% · 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 3
Natchez adults worry about having enough food
31.8% · MS 22.4% · worse
1 in 4
Natchez adults worry about keeping their housing
22.6% · MS 16.8% · worse
1 in 6
Natchez adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
16.8% · MS 11.2% · worse
1 in 6
Natchez adults lack reliable transportation
16.4% · MS 11.9% · worse

24% of Natchez adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.

Disability

Living with a disability

44%

of Natchez adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs25.6%
Thinking or memory19%
Hearing9.2%
Errands alone13.5%
Vision10.6%
Dressing or bathing8.2%

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

Getting care

Care in and near Natchez

1 hospital and 1 community health center in Natchez, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMerit Health NatchezNatchez · 0.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careJefferson Comprehensive Health CenterNatchez · 0.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.8 mi
Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Natchez
Sliding-scale feesIn Natchez
Directions to nearest
0.9 mi
Merit Health Natchez
Natchez · ★★★★★
ERIn Natchez
3.4 mi
Vidalia Community Health Center
Vidalia · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
13.2 mi
Riverland Medical Center
Ferriday · not rated
ERRural critical access
22.5 mi
Jefferson County Hospital
Fayette · not rated
ER
31 mi
Franklin County Memorial Hospital
Meadville · not rated
ERRural critical access
! Primary careNatchez's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Adams County · need score 19 of 25
! Dental careNatchez's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Adams County · need score 19 of 25
! Mental healthNatchez's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Mental Health Catchment Area 15 · need score 19 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 Natchez. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Natchez
MeasureNatchezMarginMississippi
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure52.1%48.2–56%44.9%worse
High cholesterol41.1%37–45.3%38.8%about the same
Obesity41.2%34.4–48.3%40.4%about the same
Arthritis34.9%31.6–38.3%29.9%worse
Depression17.8%15.1–20.6%19.5%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)27.2%23.2–31.5%18.5%worse
Asthma10.8%9.5–12.1%10%about the same
Cancer (not skin)8.2%7.5–9%7.6%about the same
Diabetes21%18.8–23.3%15.5%worse
COPD11.3%10.1–12.5%8.6%worse
Heart disease9.7%8.8–10.6%7.5%worse
Stroke6.5%6.1–7.1%4.5%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes19.6%17.2–22.2%16.9%worse
Binge drink10.7%8.7–12.7%13.6%better
Get no exercise41%36.4–45.8%34%worse
Sleep under 7 hours39.2%32.7–45.8%38.4%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup84.5%81.8–86.8%81.5%better
Dentist visit8.4%7.1–9.8%9.3%about the same
Cholesterol check87.2%85.5–88.7%86.2%about the same
Colon screening64.5%58.8–69.7%61.8%about the same
Mammogram73.6%65.1–80.8%74%about the same
Taking BP meds83.1%81–85%79.7%better
No health insurance13%11.1–15.1%11.5%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely36.2%31.1–41.6%36.4%about the same
Lack emotional support30.7%26.8–34.9%28.9%about the same
Frequent mental distress17.5%15.5–19.4%17.3%about the same
Fair or poor health30.9%27.9–34.1%24.4%worse
Frequent physical distress17.1%15.3–19.1%14.8%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity31.8%28.6–35.3%22.4%worse
Housing insecurity22.6%20.1–25.4%16.8%worse
Utility shut-off threat16.8%14.9–18.9%11.2%worse
No reliable transportation16.4%14.8–18.3%11.9%worse
Receive SNAP24%21.2–26.8%13.6%
Disability
Any disability44%39.8–48.4%38.1%
Walking or climbing stairs25.6%23.2–28.2%18.8%
Thinking or memory19%17–21.1%17.5%
Hearing9.2%8.3–10.2%8.1%
Vision10.6%9.7–11.5%7%
Dressing or bathing8.2%7.5–8.9%5.3%
Errands alone13.5%12.2–14.9%10.4%
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 Natchez door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Mississippi figure falls inside it, we don't call Natchez better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Natchez directly, so these are its own figures.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Mississippi 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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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01