Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Benton residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Benton, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 36785. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benton
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Benton
1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.5%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (22.8%), vs 14.8% across Alabama. COPD is also above the state: 10.9%, vs 8% across Alabama. In all, Benton runs above Alabama on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Benton
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (32.1%), vs 19.2% across Alabama. Utility shut-off threats (16.8% vs 9.6%) and housing insecurity (22.5% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 27.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Benton adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (37.6%), vs 28.7% across Alabama. 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 Benton’s likely range; Benton’s figures come from ZIP code 36785, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Benton adults…
Benton runs below AL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.5% of Benton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
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.
Care in and near Benton
No hospital or community health center in Benton 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 Benton; ≈ 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 Benton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Benton adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Benton runs above Alabama.
2 in 5 Benton 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.
Benton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Benton adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Benton
Why doesn’t Benton have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Benton.
What hospital is closest to Benton?
Vaughan Regional Medical Center Parkway Campus in Selma, 16.2 miles in a straight line from Benton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Benton.
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. 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.