Polk County Health Data
Polk County, Tennessee
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
23/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
70.7 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.9%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
70.7 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
34
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
28
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
21.6%
State avg 22.4%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
56.5
per 100K residentsCDC: 33.8 per 100K
Dentists
11.3
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
5.6
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 Polk County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 43.0% | 39.9% | 37.6% | 3.1 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 11.7% | 12.3% | 11.2% | 0.6 pts better than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 37.0% | 37.1% | 33.5% | near state average |
| Depression | 32.1% | 30.8% | 24.1% | 1.3 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 20.8% | 20.7% | 16.3% | near state average |
| Binge Drinking | 16.5% | 15.6% | 17.8% | 0.9 pts worse than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 28.4% | 28.4% | 27.0% | near state average |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 74.8% | 75.4% | 74.9% | 0.6 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 55.4% | 54.4% | 57.3% | 1.0 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 72.1% | 71.9% | 73.3% | near state average |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 22.1% | 21.7% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 40.3% | 40.0% | 37.3% | near state average |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Polk County nationally on obesity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Polk County Life Expectancy Significantly Below National Average
Health data brief for Polk County, Tennessee.
The life expectancy in Polk County is 70.7 years, which is significantly lower than the national average of approximately 77 years and the Tennessee state average of 72.4 years. This metric is accompanied by health access data showing 34 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 28 mental health providers per 100,000, both of which are below the national medians of 70 and 250, respectively. Approximately 21.6% of residents report poor or fair health, compared to the national average of 17%. The uninsured rate in the county stands at 12.9%, which is higher than the state average of 11.9% and the national benchmark of 10%. These statistics are sourced from the CDC and the Census Bureau. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Polk 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
No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Polk County.
This is common in low-population rural counties. Residents typically travel to a hospital in a neighboring county or larger metro. Use Medicare.gov Care Compare to find rated hospitals statewide or contact a federally-funded community health center for primary and preventive care.
eHealth 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.