Photo: Rivers Langley · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Ashland is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Ashland differs from Alabama on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ashland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ashland
Ashland is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Ashland is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Ashland
48.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 30.7% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Ashland
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.9%), vs 8% across Alabama. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.1%, vs 7.3% across Alabama. In all, Ashland runs above Alabama on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Ashland, and more people treating it
50.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Alabama 43.3%), but 80.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 78% statewide. Checkups ↓
Ashland is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ashland is healthier than 5%. Against the 3,130 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 23%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Alabama figure falls outside Ashland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Ashland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 25% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 3%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Ashland’s median household income is $42,308; among the 3,130 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 23%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Ashland compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Ashland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Out of every 100 Ashland adults…
Ashland runs above AL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ashland
1 community health center in Ashland, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Ashland; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Ashland adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
4 in 10 Ashland adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.5% of Ashland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Ashland and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | D | 44.2% | 18.8% | 19.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ashland adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ashland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ashland is better than Alabama on 1 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Ashland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ashland | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.8%26.5–35 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%15.8–20.7 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.2–20.7 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.2%35.3–52.8 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.8%16.3–21.4 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 50.7%46–55.1 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44.9%40.1–49.6 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.7%32.9–40.5 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.4–12.2 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.4–10.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.9%10.1–13.8 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 30.7%25.9–36 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%16.6–22.8 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.8%31–42.6 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.5–14.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.6%33.5–48.4 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%10.1–15.6 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%78.2–84.5 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.2%44.2–52.4 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83–87.1 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.9%78.4–83.3 | 78% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.3%54.7–65.9 | 67% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.6%63–79.6 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%20–27.3 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.2%30.9–42 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.6%22.8–30.8 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.5%21.6–29.5 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.7%14.3–19.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10.2–13.5 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.2%10.6–14 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.5%17.3–23.8 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.2%39.7–50.5 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.9%20.7–27.3 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%16.7–21.8 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.1%9.7–12.5 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.6%7.5–9.7 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.4%11.5–15.3 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%5.8–7.6 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Alabama figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ashland
Is Ashland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 23%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ashland?
CDC estimates 44.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.3% and 52.8%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ashland?
Clay County Hospital in Ashland, 4.0 miles in a straight line from Ashland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ashland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.1–15.6%), against 9.9% across Alabama.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Ashland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ashland.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Alabama figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.