Photo: Rivers Langley SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Auburn is healthier than 90%
Auburn differs from Alabama on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Auburn. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Auburn
Auburn is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Auburn is healthier than 68%. Against the 9,680 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 90%. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Auburn
Auburn runs below Alabama on eight chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (3.9% vs 7.3%), stroke (2.2% vs 4.1%) and diabetes (8.5% vs 14.8%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Alabama 18%). Conditions ↓
Getting around is a barrier for more Auburn adults
1 in 8 adults lack reliable transportation (13%), vs 9.8% across Alabama. Everyday needs ↓
Auburn is an active town
Only 23.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.7% across Alabama. The town has 57 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Auburn’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Auburn’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Auburn is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #31 of 187 in Alabama. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 94% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Auburn’s median household income is $63,668; among the 9,680 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 90%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Alabama towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Auburn is healthier than 84% of graded towns, against 68% nationally.
Out of every 100 Auburn adults…
Auburn runs below AL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Auburn residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
57 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.1% of Auburn adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Care in and near Auburn
No hospital or community health center in Auburn itself. These are the nearest.
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 Auburn; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Auburn adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Auburn adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Auburn runs above Alabama.
4 in 10 Auburn 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.
Auburn and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Auburn adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Auburn
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Auburn is better than Alabama on 13 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Auburn’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Auburn | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.7%16.5–21.1 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.9%9.7–12.3 | 14.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.9–22.3 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.5%29.7–41.7 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.5%7.4–9.7 | 14.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30%26.6–33.5 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.7%27.3–34.3 | 40.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.8%15.7–20 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.6 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%2–2.3 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.4%8.4–12.6 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.1%9.6–12.8 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 23.6%20–27.4 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.5–19.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1%30.4–41.9 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.8–10.5 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.7%72.9–80.2 | 80.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.2%54.6–61.8 | 56.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77%74.5–79.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 63.8%60.9–66.6 | 78% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.7%64.2–73.1 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%73.1–85.3 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22–29.2 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.8%32–41.7 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.1%19.8–26.6 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.1%18.6–23.5 | 19.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12.4–16.1 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13%11.6–14.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.1%14.2–18.2 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.8%29–36.8 | 36.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.7%8.5–11 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.7–20.5 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%5–5.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.8–3.3 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Auburn
Is Auburn a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Auburn is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #31 of 187 in Alabama. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Auburn?
CDC estimates 35.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 41.7%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Auburn?
The East Alabama Healthcare Authority in Opelika, 5.5 miles in a straight line from Auburn’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Auburn have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–10.5%), 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 Auburn more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Auburn.
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.