Bedford County Health Data
Bedford County, Tennessee
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
26/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
72.8 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.9%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
72.8 yr
State avg 72.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.9%
State avg 11.9%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
29
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
74
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
22.2%
State avg 22.4%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
27.3
per 100K residentsCDC: 29.3 per 100K
Dentists
1.9
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
5.8
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Bedford County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Bedford | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 44.4% | 39.9% | 37.6% | 4.5 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 37.1% | 37.1% | 33.5% | near state average |
| Depression | 29.9% | 30.8% | 24.1% | 0.9 pts better than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Bedford | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 19.5% | 20.7% | 16.3% | 1.2 pts better than state |
| Binge Drinking | 15.0% | 15.6% | 17.8% | 0.6 pts better than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 29.1% | 28.4% | 27.0% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Bedford | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 75.8% | 75.4% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 54.4% | 54.4% | 57.3% | near state average |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 68.7% | 71.9% | 73.3% | 3.2 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Bedford | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 20.9% | 21.7% | 18.6% | 0.8 pts better than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 40.7% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Bedford County nationally on obesity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Bedford County Records Low Primary Care Provider Ratios
Health data brief for Bedford County, Tennessee.
Bedford County records 29 primary care providers per 100,000 people, a figure significantly lower than the national median of 70. Mental health provider ratios are also lower than national figures, with 74 providers per 100,000 residents compared to the national median of 250. Despite these provider ratios, the county's life expectancy of 72.8 years is slightly higher than the Tennessee state average of 72.4 years. However, this remains lower than the national average of 77 years. The uninsured rate in the county sits at 12.9%, which is higher than the state average of 11.9% and the national average of 10%. Furthermore, 22.2% of the population reports being in poor or fair health, which is higher than the national average of 17%. These figures provide a snapshot of the health landscape in the county. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Bedford County, Tennessee
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital
EReHealth Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.