Photo: RuralSWAlabama (Billy Milstead) · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Butler is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Butler differs from Alabama on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Butler. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Butler
Butler is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Butler is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Butler
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.6%), 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: 10.2%, vs 7.3% across Alabama. In all, Butler runs above Alabama on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Butler
48.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 24.8% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Butler, and more people treating it
50.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Alabama 43.3%), but 81.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 78% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Butler’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Butler’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Butler is healthier than 6% 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). Butler’s median household income is $47,350; among the 4,784 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Butler compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Butler adults…
Butler runs above AL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Butler adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Care in and near Butler
1 community health center in Butler, 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 Butler; ≈ 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.
0.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Butler adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
4 in 10 Butler 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.
21.5% of Butler adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Butler and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler | D | 43.7% | 18.7% | 18.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Butler adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Butler
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Butler is better than Alabama on 1 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Butler’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Butler | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.2%26.1–34.6 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.4–20.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.2–20.8 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.7%35.2–52.2 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.7%16.3–21.3 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 50.7%46.2–55.2 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44.7%40.1–49.5 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 38%34.2–41.8 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.7–10.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.2%9–11.5 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.6%9.9–13.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.8%20.7–29.3 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.6%15.5–22 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.4%30.5–42.6 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.6%9.4–14.2 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.2%33.2–47.2 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%9–13.6 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.5%79.3–85.4 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.7%44.4–52.7 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%83.6–87.8 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.4%78.9–83.7 | 78% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.4%60.2–70.2 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.8%65.7–80.9 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21.1–28.7 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.9%30.7–41.5 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%22.1–30.4 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.3%21.3–29.7 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.9%14.2–19.7 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.7%10.9–14.7 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.4%10.6–14.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.5%17.8–25.3 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.9%39.6–50.3 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.8%20.6–27.2 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.7%16.2–21.3 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.2%9.8–12.6 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.4%7.3–9.5 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.1%11.4–15 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.5%5.7–7.5 | 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 Butler
Is Butler a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Butler is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Butler?
CDC estimates 43.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.2% and 52.2%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Butler?
Ochsner Choctaw General in Butler, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Butler’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Butler have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–13.6%), 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 Butler 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 Butler.
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.