Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Boaz is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Boaz trails Alabama on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Boaz. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Boaz
Boaz is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Boaz is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, physical distress, diabetes and exercise. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Boaz
51.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 21.5% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Boaz has no health insurance
14.4% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Alabama. Checkups ↓
Boaz is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Boaz is healthier than 10%. Against the 5,742 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 26%. 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 Boaz’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Boaz’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Boaz is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #148 of 187 in Alabama. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 23% of U.S. towns); no exercise 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). Boaz’s median household income is $49,846; among the 5,742 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Boaz adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Out of every 100 Boaz adults…
Boaz runs above AL on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Boaz residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Boaz
1 hospital in Boaz, 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 Boaz; ≈ 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.
2.1 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How Boaz adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
4 in 10 Boaz 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.
16.6% of Boaz adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Boaz and the towns around it
Boaz’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boaz | D | 39.7% | 15.6% | 18.1% | CDC place |
| Sardis City | C− | 40.6% | 14.1% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| Albertville | C− | 38.7% | 14.3% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| New Union | — | — | — | — | |
| Carlisle-Rockledge | C− | 41.5% | 13.9% | 17.2% | CDC place |
New Union: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Boaz adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Boaz
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Boaz is better than Alabama on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Boaz’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Boaz | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.7%24.5–30.9 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.8–18.6 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.9–21.2 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.7%32.9–46.8 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.6%13.7–17.5 | 14.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43%39.2–46.8 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.3%38.3–46.3 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.9%28.9–35 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.4 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%9–11.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–4.9 | 4.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.5%17.9–25.2 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%15.6–20.7 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.4%29.6–39 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%11.8–17 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%34.7–47.3 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.4%12.4–16.8 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.1%74.8–81.5 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.9%48.1–55.6 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%80.9–85 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%75–79.8 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.7%56.8–66.1 | 67% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%65–79 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.2%22.7–29.9 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%32.2–42.3 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.5%21–28.1 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.4%19.6–25.7 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.1%13.1–17.2 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.6%14.2–19.3 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.8%38.1–47.2 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.9%17.5–22.2 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%17.1–21.5 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 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 Boaz
Is Boaz a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Boaz is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #148 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 26%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Boaz?
CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 46.8%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Boaz?
Marshall Medical Centers in Boaz, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Boaz’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Boaz have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.4–16.8%), 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 Boaz 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 Boaz.
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.