Health · Nicholson
Nicholson, MS health
Nicholson differs from Mississippi on 14 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more smokers (24.1% vs 16.9%) and more uninsured adults (15.9% vs 11.5%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for NicholsonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D−
Nicholson’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Nicholson is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressDObesityDDiabetesD-SmokingD-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 3%
Less healthyHealthier
Mississippi towns we grade (194)Healthier than 18%
Towns with similar incomes, $38K–$63K (5,456)Healthier than 5%
About what its income would suggest. Nicholson does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Nicholson 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 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 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
42.7% have obesity
0 better10 close2 worse
Habits
39.9% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
78.7% had a checkup
0 better3 close4 worse
Mind & connection
37.5% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
28.7% face food insecurity
0 better2 close3 worse
Disability
44.9% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Nicholson adults…
45 of every 100 Nicholson adults have high blood pressure
Mississippi: 45 in 100 · too close to call · margin 40.1–49%
Bars show Nicholson; the black tick is Mississippi. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Nicholson, betterNicholson, worseToo close to callMississippi
Get no exerciseshare of adults
39.9% Nicholson
MS 34%
MS 34%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
43.3% Nicholson
MS 38.4%
MS 38.4%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14% Nicholson
MS 13.6%
MS 13.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
24.1% Nicholson
MS 16.9%
MS 16.9%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Nicholson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Yearly checkup
MS 82%Dentist visit
MS 9%Cholesterol check
MS 86%Colon screening
MS 62%Mammogram
MS 74%Taking BP meds
MS 80%1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Nicholson 15.9% · Mississippi 1 in 9 (11.5%)
Mind & connection
How Nicholson adults are doing
1 in 3Nicholson adults feel lonely
37.5% · Mississippi 36.4% · too close to call
1 in 4Nicholson adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.9% · Mississippi 19.5% · too close to call
1 in 3Nicholson adults lack social or emotional support
29.3% · Mississippi 28.9% · too close to call
1 in 5Nicholson adults are in frequent mental distress
20.1% · Mississippi 17.3% · worse
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
Nicholson adults worry about having enough food
28.7% · MS 22.4% · worse
1 in 5
Nicholson adults worry about keeping their housing
19.5% · MS 16.8% · about the same
1 in 8
Nicholson adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
13.3% · MS 11.2% · worse
1 in 7
Nicholson adults lack reliable transportation
14.5% · MS 11.9% · worse
18.2% of Nicholson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Disability
Living with a disability
44.9%
of Nicholson adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs22.4%
Thinking or memory22.3%
Hearing10%
Errands alone13.3%
Vision9.1%
Dressing or bathing6.9%
Black tick: Mississippi. 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 ERHighland Community HospitalPicayune · 4.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePicayune Family Health CenterPicayune · 4.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
13.5 mi
Access Health Louisiana
3 sites · nearest in Slidell
St. Tammany Community Health Center - SlidellSlidell · 13.5 mi
Washington Community Health CenterBogalusa · 19.5 mi
Bogalusa High School-Based Health CenterBogalusa · 22.5 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careNicholson's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Hancock & Pearl River Counties · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careNicholson's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Hancock & Pearl River Counties · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthNicholson's county is a federal shortage area.Mental Health Catchment Area 12 · need score 13 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 | Mississippi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 44.5% | 40.1–49% | 44.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 40% | 35.4–44.7% | 38.8% | about the same |
| Obesity | 42.7% | 34.7–50.9% | 40.4% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 32.6% | 29.2–36.3% | 29.9% | about the same |
| Depression | 22.9% | 19.4–26.8% | 19.5% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 21.3% | 17.6–25.4% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.4% | 9.1–11.9% | 10% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.4% | 6.7–8.3% | 7.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 16.8% | 14.7–19.1% | 15.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 11.8% | 10.2–13.6% | 8.6% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.8% | 7.8–9.9% | 7.5% | worse |
| Stroke | 5% | 4.5–5.6% | 4.5% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.1% | 20.8–28% | 16.9% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14% | 11.4–17% | 13.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 39.9% | 34.5–46% | 34% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.3% | 36.5–50.6% | 38.4% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.7% | 74.9–82.3% | 81.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 6.5% | 5.5–7.7% | 9.3% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 82.3% | 79.8–84.9% | 86.2% | worse |
| Colon screening | 53.1% | 47.3–58.8% | 61.8% | worse |
| Mammogram | 68% | 59.3–76.4% | 74% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.8% | 75.9–81.4% | 79.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 15.9% | 13.2–19% | 11.5% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 37.5% | 32.2–43% | 36.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 29.3% | 25.2–33.8% | 28.9% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 20.1% | 17.8–22.7% | 17.3% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 30.8% | 26.8–35.3% | 24.4% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.6% | 16.3–21.2% | 14.8% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 28.7% | 24.5–33.2% | 22.4% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 19.5% | 16.8–22.5% | 16.8% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 13.3% | 11.5–15.3% | 11.2% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 14.5% | 12.6–16.5% | 11.9% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 18.2% | 15.2–21.6% | 13.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.9% | 39.7–50.3% | 38.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 22.4% | 19.6–25.5% | 18.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 22.3% | 19.6–25.3% | 17.5% | |
| Hearing | 10% | 8.9–11.3% | 8.1% | |
| Vision | 9.1% | 8.1–10.3% | 7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.9% | 6.1–7.9% | 5.3% | |
| Errands alone | 13.3% | 11.6–15.2% | 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 Nicholson door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Mississippi 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 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.