Health · Pulaski
Pulaski, TN health
On most measures Pulaski looks like Tennessee as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more adults who have had a stroke (4.3% vs 3.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for PulaskiTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C−
Pulaski’s Health Grade: C−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Pulaski is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns, and than 41% of towns with similar incomes.
C-Self-rated healthC-Physical distressDMental distressC-ObesityC-DiabetesC-SmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 15%
Less healthyHealthier
Tennessee towns we grade (303)Healthier than 55%
Towns with similar incomes, $36K–$61K (4,927)Healthier than 41%
Better than its income would suggest. Pulaski 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, Pulaski 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 Tennessee 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 Pulaski 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. Pulaski 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 Pulaski compares with Tennessee
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
39.7% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
28.5% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.7% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
0 better3 close0 worse
Disability
39.5% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Pulaski adults…
42 of every 100 Pulaski adults have high blood pressure
Tennessee: 40 in 100 · too close to call · margin 37.6–46%
Bars show Pulaski; the black tick is Tennessee. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Pulaski, betterPulaski, worseToo close to callTennessee
Get no exerciseshare of adults
28.5% Pulaski
TN 26.6%
TN 26.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
41.4% Pulaski
TN 38.2%
TN 38.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults
13.6% Pulaski
TN 14.6%
TN 14.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.9% Pulaski
TN 17.3%
TN 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Pulaski adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Yearly checkup
TN 78%Dentist visit
TN 58%Cholesterol check
TN 87%Colon screening
TN 63%Mammogram
TN 75%Taking BP meds
TN 76%1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Pulaski 11.8% · Tennessee 1 in 9 (11.6%)
Mind & connection
How Pulaski adults are doing
1 in 3Pulaski adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.6% · Tennessee 28.4% · too close to call
1 in 5Pulaski adults are in frequent mental distress
20.4% · Tennessee 19.3% · too close to call
Disability
Living with a disability
39.5%
of Pulaski adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs18.3%
Thinking or memory19.2%
Hearing8.3%
Errands alone10.9%
Vision6.2%
Dressing or bathing4.6%
Black tick: Tennessee. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Pulaski
1 hospital in Pulaski, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERSouthern Tennessee Regional Health System PulaskiPulaski · 1.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMercy Marshall County - 122 East Commerce StreetLewisburg · 22.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
17.1 mi
Southern Tennessee Regional Health System Lawrence
Lawrenceburg · ★★★★★
22.5 mi
Mercy Marshall County - 122 East Commerce Street
Lewisburg · community health center
23.4 mi
Maury Regional Hospital
4 sites · nearest in Lewisburg
Lewisburg Family PracticeLewisburg · 23.4 mi
Lewisburg PediatricsLewisburg · 23.4 mi
Lewisburg FamilyLewisburg · 23.4 mi
PrimecareColumbia · 29.2 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary carePulaski's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Giles County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental carePulaski's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Giles County · need score 15 of 25
! Mental healthPulaski's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, MHCA 20 · 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 Pulaski. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Pulaski
| Measure | Pulaski | Margin | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 41.7% | 37.6–46% | 39.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 38.6% | 34.3–43% | 38.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 39.7% | 31.7–48% | 37.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 32.1% | 28.8–35.6% | 30.6% | about the same |
| Depression | 28.6% | 24.6–32.8% | 28.4% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 16.2% | 13.1–19.7% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11.7% | 10.3–13.2% | 11% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.5% | 7.7–9.3% | 8.2% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 14.9% | 13–17% | 13.6% | about the same |
| COPD | 9.4% | 8.2–10.5% | 8.6% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.6% | 6.8–8.4% | 7% | about the same |
| Stroke | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7% | 3.7% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.9% | 15.4–20.6% | 17.3% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 13.6% | 11.1–16.5% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 28.5% | 23.9–33.4% | 26.6% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.4% | 34.7–48.6% | 38.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.7% | 75.1–82% | 78.1% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 55.8% | 51.8–59.7% | 58.1% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 85.7% | 83.7–87.5% | 86.6% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 63.5% | 58.2–68.6% | 63.2% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 73.8% | 65.5–81% | 75.2% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.8% | 75.3–80.1% | 76.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 11.8% | 10–14% | 11.6% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 20.4% | 18.1–22.8% | 19.3% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 24.5% | 21.5–27.7% | 22.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.9% | 14–17.9% | 14.9% | about the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.5% | 34.7–44.3% | 35.8% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18.3% | 16.1–20.7% | 16.3% | |
| Thinking or memory | 19.2% | 17–21.6% | 17.4% | |
| Hearing | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3% | 7.6% | |
| Vision | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9% | 5.5% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1% | 4.1% | |
| Errands alone | 10.9% | 9.7–12.2% | 9.5% | |
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 Pulaski door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Tennessee figure falls inside it, we don't call Pulaski better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Pulaski directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Tennessee 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.