CDC PLACES County-Level Data

Heart Disease by State

The national average county-level coronary heart disease prevalence is 7.7% of adults. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and rural communities face disproportionate burden due to higher rates of obesity, smoking, and hypertension combined with limited access to cardiologists and emergency cardiac care.

7.7%

National Average

States Above 7%

Highest (9.5%)

Lowest (5.8%)

Heart Disease Prevalence Map

Average county-level coronary heart disease prevalence by state. Darker colors indicate higher rates. Click a state to explore its full health profile.

55%

% of counties with no hospital

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All 50 States Ranked by Heart Disease Prevalence

Sorted by highest average county-level coronary heart disease rate. Click any column header to re-sort. Click a state name to see its full profile.

#	State	Avg Heart Disease % ▼	Avg Obesity %	Avg Smoking %	PCPs/100K
1	West VirginiaWV	9.5%	41.8%	21.5%	81.6
2	ArkansasAR	9.2%	41.2%	18.6%	69.3
3	OklahomaOK	8.8%	41.0%	19.0%	59.2
4	FloridaFL	8.7%	34.8%	15.6%	73.0
5	AlabamaAL	8.6%	42.2%	18.1%	65.4
6	LouisianaLA	8.6%	42.5%	20.4%	72.0
7	TennesseeTN	8.6%	40.2%	20.7%	68.2
8	MissouriMO	8.5%	39.0%	19.1%	72.1
9	MississippiMS	8.5%	42.8%	19.3%	56.2
10	New MexicoNM	8.5%	35.2%	15.0%	73.1
11	MaineME	8.4%	34.1%	15.9%	105.3
12	MichiganMI	8.4%	38.1%	16.4%	80.5
13	South DakotaSD	8.2%	37.1%	18.0%	80.5
14	ArizonaAZ	8.1%	33.3%	14.7%	63.9
15	North CarolinaNC	8.1%	37.8%	16.1%	70.3
16	NevadaNV	8.1%	35.1%	17.0%	58.4
17	MontanaMT	8.0%	33.6%	15.8%	82.8
18	OhioOH	8.0%	39.5%	17.8%	76.7
19	OregonOR	8.0%	35.5%	13.8%	94.7
20	South CarolinaSC	8.0%	39.4%	16.2%	67.3
21	KansasKS	7.9%	38.7%	16.0%	79.1
22	North DakotaND	7.9%	39.0%	15.4%	79.3
23	GeorgiaGA	7.8%	38.5%	17.3%	67.5
24	NebraskaNE	7.8%	39.6%	14.5%	75.1
25	IndianaIN	7.7%	40.1%	17.8%	66.1
26	TexasTX	7.7%	37.7%	15.2%	60.9
27	WisconsinWI	7.7%	39.2%	15.4%	81.3
28	IowaIA	7.6%	39.4%	16.0%	74.3
29	IdahoID	7.6%	33.4%	13.7%	62.8
30	VirginiaVA	7.6%	37.9%	15.1%	75.9
31	IllinoisIL	7.5%	38.9%	15.6%	82.6
32	MinnesotaMN	7.3%	37.0%	15.4%	89.9
33	WyomingWY	7.2%	34.3%	14.7%	71.2
34	DelawareDE	7.1%	36.7%	13.2%	78.2
35	WashingtonWA	7.1%	34.3%	12.4%	85.1
36	HawaiiHI	7.0%	28.6%	13.7%	88.1
37	ColoradoCO	6.9%	27.4%	13.0%	83.1
38	New YorkNY	6.9%	33.2%	13.7%	83.4
39	CaliforniaCA	6.8%	30.1%	12.7%	84.2
40	VermontVT	6.8%	30.7%	12.5%	114.3
41	AlaskaAK	6.7%	36.2%	20.1%	93.9
42	MarylandMD	6.6%	36.4%	12.9%	85.6
43	New HampshireNH	6.6%	32.0%	11.9%	84.8
44	UtahUT	6.4%	31.7%	10.1%	56.1
45	MassachusettsMA	6.3%	28.1%	12.0%	102.2
46	Rhode IslandRI	6.3%	29.5%	11.0%	93.2
47	ConnecticutCT	6.0%	30.7%	11.0%	83.7
48	New JerseyNJ	5.8%	30.1%	11.9%	79.2
49	KentuckyKY	—	—	—	63.2
50	PennsylvaniaPA	—	—	—	80.7

Source: CDC PLACES (county-level model-based estimates), AHRF (workforce), CMS Provider of Services (hospital data).

Why Heart Disease Data Matters for Rural Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for approximately 700,000 deaths annually. Rural Americans are 20% more likely to die from heart disease than their urban counterparts, driven by higher prevalence of risk factors like obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity, combined with longer travel times to cardiac care facilities.

For state health agencies and hospital leaders, county-level coronary heart disease data reveals where cardiovascular burden is highest and where emergency cardiac infrastructure is most needed. Many rural counties lack catheterization labs or even basic emergency departments capable of managing acute coronary events.

The RHT Compass platform integrates CDC PLACES heart disease prevalence with hospital capacity, closure data, and workforce metrics — helping decision-makers understand where cardiovascular risk and access gaps intersect, and where investments in telehealth, transfer protocols, or new facilities could save lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the heart disease prevalence data come from?

Coronary heart disease prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES dataset, which provides model-based county-level estimates for chronic disease indicators. The measure reflects diagnosed coronary heart disease among adults aged 18 and older. RHT Compass averages county-level rates to produce each state's score.

Why do Southern and Appalachian states have higher heart disease rates?

The geographic concentration of heart disease in the Southeast and Appalachia reflects clustering of risk factors: higher smoking rates, higher obesity, greater physical inactivity, lower incomes, and fewer healthcare providers. These regions also have higher proportions of rural residents with longer travel times to cardiac care.

How does heart disease affect rural hospital finances?

Heart disease drives significant hospital utilization — emergency visits, cardiac catheterizations, bypass surgeries, and readmissions. For rural hospitals that must transfer cardiac patients to larger facilities, the financial impact is indirect but real: transfer costs, lost revenue, and the community health burden of delayed treatment all compound over time.

Can I see county-level heart disease data for my state?

Yes. Every state profile page includes county-level CDC PLACES data, including heart disease, diabetes, COPD, and other chronic disease indicators. Click any state in the table above to see its full breakdown.

Explore Heart Disease & Health Access in Your State

Every state page includes county-level chronic disease data, hospital financials, and workforce metrics. Start with your state, or request a demo of the full analytics platform.

Explore Your State Request a Demo

Coronary heart disease, obesity, and smoking prevalence from CDC PLACES (model-based county-level estimates). Workforce data from HRSA Area Health Resources File (AHRF). Hospital data from CMS Provider of Services. Last updated: 2026-02-15.