Smith County Health Data

Smith County, Tennessee

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

31/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

72.0 yr

Uninsured Rate

11.9%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

72.0 yr

State avg 72.4 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

11.9%

State avg 11.9%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

40

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

29

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

20.2%

State avg 22.4%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

19.8

per 100K residentsCDC: 39.7 per 100K

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

24.8

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 Smith County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureSmithState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity38.5%39.9%37.6%1.4 pts better than state
Diabetes11.2%12.3%11.2%1.1 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure34.6%37.1%33.5%2.5 pts better than state
Depression31.0%30.8%24.1%near state average

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureSmithState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking19.6%20.7%16.3%1.1 pts better than state
Binge Drinking16.7%15.6%17.8%1.1 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity26.5%28.4%27.0%1.9 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureSmithState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup74.4%75.4%74.9%1.0 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)58.4%54.4%57.3%4.0 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)74.4%71.9%73.3%2.5 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureSmithState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress21.4%21.7%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration38.4%40.0%37.3%1.6 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Smith County nationally on dental visit (past year).

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Smith County Mental Health Provider Access Below National Median

Health data brief for Smith County, Tennessee.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Mental health access

Smith County reports 29 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the national median of 250. The county also has 40 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, which is below the national median of 70. Life expectancy is 72.0 years, marginally lower than the Tennessee average of 72.4 years and five years shorter than the national average of 77. The uninsured rate is 11.9%, exactly matching the state average and exceeding the national rate of 10%. Residents reporting poor or fair health account for 20.2% of the population, which is higher than the national average of 17%. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Smith 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.

Highpoint Health-riverview With Ascension Saint Th

ER
4/5
(615) 735-9815
158 Hospital Drive, Carthage, TN 37030
Critical Access HospitalsProprietary

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Smith County, TN?
Smith County has a health score of 31/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #35 out of 95 counties in Tennessee (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Smith County?
Life expectancy in Smith County is 72.0 years. The Tennessee state average is 72.4 years, making Smith County below the state average.
How does Smith County health compare to the Tennessee average?
Smith County's health score of 31/100 is above the Tennessee average of 29/100. Life expectancy is 72.0 years vs. the state average of 72.4 years. The uninsured rate is 11.9% vs. 11.9% statewide.
What health factors affect Smith County?
Key health factors for Smith County include: life expectancy (72.0 years), uninsured rate (11.9%), and primary care physician access (40:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 29:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Smith County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 31/100 ("Below Average"), Smith County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Tennessee. Residents have a life expectancy of 72.0 years. 11.9% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Smith County healthier than the Tennessee average?
Smith County's health score of 31/100 exceeds the Tennessee average of 29/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors. Smith County has better primary care access (40:1 ratio) than the state average (44:1).

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

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.