Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Bridgeport is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Bridgeport trails Alabama on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bridgeport. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bridgeport
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Bridgeport
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.9%), vs 8% across Alabama. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (10.6%), vs 7.3% across Alabama. Stroke is also above the state: 5.7%, vs 4.1% across Alabama. In all, Bridgeport runs above Alabama on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Bridgeport is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Bridgeport is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 25 miles from Bridgeport
The closest emergency room is Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, 25.4 miles away in a straight line. And 13.4% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 9.8% across Alabama. For everyday care, Northeast Alabama Health Services is closer (9 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More Bridgeport adults live with a disability
1 in 2 adults live with a disability (49%, vs 36.5% across Alabama). The biggest difference is vision loss: 9.2% vs 6%. Disability ↓
Bridgeport is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bridgeport is healthier than 2%. Against the 1,173 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 17%. 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 Bridgeport’s likely range.
What’s behind Bridgeport’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bridgeport is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of Bridgeport’s estimates fall in the lowest 8% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 23.4% of adults, against 15.1% across Alabama and 11.8% nationally.
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). Bridgeport’s median household income is $34,481; among the 1,173 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Bridgeport adults…
Bridgeport runs above AL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bridgeport
No hospital or community health center in Bridgeport 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 Bridgeport; ≈ 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).
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bridgeport adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bridgeport adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Bridgeport adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bridgeport runs above Alabama.
1 in 3 Bridgeport 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.
23.6% of Bridgeport adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Bridgeport and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | D− | 42.9% | 18.8% | 23.4% | CDC place |
| Stevenson | D− | 43% | 18.7% | 22.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Bridgeport
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bridgeport is better than Alabama on 0 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Bridgeport’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bridgeport | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.6%28.4–37.3 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.3–22.5 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.4–23.5 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.9%34.8–51.2 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.8%16.5–21.4 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49%44.7–53.5 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.9%39.4–48.4 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.7%34.1–41.6 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.8 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.9%12–16.1 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.9%18.9–27.3 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.4%19.8–27.4 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38%32.5–44.3 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.4–15.6 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.8%35.9–50.2 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.9%10.2–16 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.1–83.1 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.7%43.7–51.8 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%79.6–84.8 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%76.8–81.8 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%60.6–70.6 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.8%59.9–76.8 | 77.9% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.4%24.5–32.8 | 23.3% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35%29.6–40.7 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%22.2–30.4 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.4%23–32.2 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.8%14.2–19.6 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.7%10.9–14.7 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%11.6–15.5 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.6%19.8–28.1 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 49%43.8–54.9 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.2%22–28.7 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%19–25.1 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12%10.7–13.6 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.9%13–17.2 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 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 Bridgeport
Is Bridgeport a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bridgeport is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bridgeport?
CDC estimates 42.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.8% and 51.2%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bridgeport?
Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, 25.4 miles in a straight line from Bridgeport’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bridgeport have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.2–16%), 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 Bridgeport more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bridgeport.
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.