Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Calera is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Calera differs from Alabama on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Calera. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Calera
Binge drinking is the habit Calera doesn’t win on
17.3% of adults binge drink, vs 14.1% across Alabama, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Calera
Calera runs below Alabama on six chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.3% vs 7.3%), stroke (2.6% vs 4.1%) and COPD (5.1% vs 8%). A young population is part of it: only 8% of residents are 65 or older (Alabama 18%). Conditions ↓
Calera is an active town
Only 22.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.7% across Alabama. The town has 23 miles of trails across 4 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 Calera’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Calera’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Calera is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #29 of 187 in Alabama. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 88% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Calera’s median household income is $87,194; among the 10,235 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($65K–$109K), it’s healthier than 74%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
23 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Calera adults…
Calera runs below AL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Calera residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Calera
No hospital or community health center in Calera 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 Calera; ≈ 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 Calera adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Calera adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
1 in 3 Calera 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.
11.1% of Calera adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Calera and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Calera adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Calera
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Calera is better than Alabama on 14 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Calera’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Calera | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%15.4–19.8 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%10–12.7 | 14.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.5–19.5 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.1%29.4–41.1 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.7–11.4 | 14.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%33.4–40.9 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%31.3–38.8 | 40.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 22.9%20.4–25.7 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.5–6.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.4–2.8 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.3%10–14.9 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%10.9–14.7 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22.2%18.8–25.9 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.4–20.6 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1%34.7–45.8 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.6%7.3–10 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%74–81.1 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.6%56.8–64.4 | 56.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.5–87.4 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.2%66.9–73.5 | 78% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%59.2–68.5 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.6%72.1–84.4 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%19.9–26.6 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34%29.6–38.7 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%20.9–27.7 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.3%14.1–18.7 | 19.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.5%11.7–15.5 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.4%8.2–10.7 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 9.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 14% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.5%25–32.4 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.2%9.8–12.8 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%13.1–16.6 | 16.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.9–4.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%7–8.7 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.9–3.4 | 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 Calera
Is Calera a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Calera is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #29 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 74%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Calera?
CDC estimates 35.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.4% and 41.1%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Calera?
Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, 9.7 miles in a straight line from Calera’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Calera have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–10%), 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 Calera 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 Calera.
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.