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Wilcox Female InstituteWilcox Female Institute · Photo: Altairisfar · Public domain
D−Health Grade
Health in Camden · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Camden is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns

Camden differs from Alabama on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Camden. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Camden

Dental care lags in Camden

43.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 28.1% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓

Camden is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health

On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Camden is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓

Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Camden

1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.4%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. 1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.8%), vs 8% across Alabama. Diabetes is also above the state: 21.6%, vs 14.8% across Alabama. In all, Camden runs above Alabama on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

More high blood pressure in Camden, and more people treating it

53.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Alabama 43.3%), but 81.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 78% statewide. Checkups ↓

Camden is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Camden is healthier than 3%. Against the 1,519 towns with similar household incomes ($27K–$46K), 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 Camden’s likely range.

Health Grade

What’s behind Camden’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Camden is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 20% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).

D−Self-rated health33% · AL 22.8% · U.S. 19.4%
DPhysical distress18% · AL 14.2% · U.S. 13%
C−Mental distress18.9% · AL 17.2% · U.S. 15.9%
D−Obesity49.4% · AL 39.4% · U.S. 32.9%
D−Diabetes21.6% · AL 14.8% · U.S. 12%
DSmoking20% smoke · AL 15.1% · U.S. 11.8%
D−Exercise37.9% · AL 28.7% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 3%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $27K–$46K (1,519)Healthier than 26%

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). Camden’s median household income is $36,481; among the 1,519 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$46K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Camden compares well: binge drinking, 10.4% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.7% (U.S. 76.5%).

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Camden could be anywhere from D− to C−.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Camden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.

83%Yearly checkupAL 80%
44%Dentist visitAL 57%
86%Cholesterol checkAL 86%
65%Colon screeningAL 67%
75%MammogramAL 78%
82%Taking BP medsAL 78%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Camden 12.8% · Alabama 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Camden adults…

Camden runs above AL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

6 of every 100 Camden adults have had a stroke
Alabama: 4 in 100 · worse · likely 5.8–7.2%
Better than ALWorseAbout the sameAlabama
Getting care

Care in and near Camden

1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Camden, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERJ Paul Jones HospitalCamden · 0.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePhysicians Care of ClarkeCamden · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.6 mi
J Paul Jones Hospital
Camden · not rated
ERIn Camden
0.7 mi
Physicians Care of Clarke
3 sites · nearest in Camden
Sliding-scale feesIn Camden
Directions to nearest
0.8 mi
Cahaba Medical Care - Camden
Camden · community health center
Sliding-scale feesIn Camden
32.8 mi
Vaughan Regional Medical Center Parkway Campus
Selma · ★★★★★
ER
35.5 mi
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital
Grove Hill · not rated
ER
39.5 mi
The Health Care Authority of the City of Greenville- LV Stabler Hospital
Greenville · not rated
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Camden itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Camden itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Camden itself

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 Camden; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama

Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.

Get no exercise 37.9%AL 28.7%
Sleep under 7 hours 43.7%AL 39.1%
Binge drink 10.4%AL 14.1%
Smoke cigarettes 20%AL 15.1%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Camden, betterCamden, worseAbout the sameAlabama
Where Camden gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Camden adults are doing

About the same as Alabama on each measure.

2 in 5Camden adults feel lonely
38% · AL 35.4% · About the same as AL
3 in 10Camden adults lack social or emotional support
28.9% · AL 24.8% · About the same as AL
1 in 4Camden adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.3% · AL 23.3% · About the same as AL
1 in 5Camden adults are in frequent mental distress
18.9% · AL 17.2% · About the same as AL
The one neighbors can help with

2 in 5 Camden adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 3
Camden adults worry about having enough food
33.6% · AL 19.2%
Worse than AL
1 in 4
Camden adults worry about keeping their housing
22.8% · AL 13.9%
Worse than AL
1 in 6
Camden adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
17.3% · AL 9.6%
Worse than AL
1 in 6
Camden adults lack reliable transportation
16.2% · AL 9.8%
Worse than AL

29.7% of Camden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.

Around town

Camden and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
CamdenD−49.4%21.6%20%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

45.1%

of Camden adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs25.5%
Thinking or memory19.6%
Hearing9.7%
Errands alone14.5%
Vision10.2%
Dressing or bathing8.1%
Alabama

Every CDC estimate for Camden

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Camden is better than Alabama on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Camden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…CamdenALU.S.vs AL
Overall health
Fair or poor health33%29–37.122.8%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)18%15.7–20.414.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.9%16.7–21.217.2%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity49.4%40.6–58.139.4%32.9%Worse
Diabetes21.6%19.1–24.414.8%12%Worse
High blood pressure53.9%49.6–58.343.3%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)43.3%38.7–4840.7%37.1%About the same
Arthritis36%32.5–39.830.3%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.7%10.3–13.210%9.9%Worse
Cancer, other than skin cancer8%7.1–8.88.2%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease9.9%8.8–11.17.3%6.4%Worse
COPD11.8%10.1–13.68%6.3%Worse
Stroke6.4%5.8–7.24.1%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)28.1%23.6–32.915.4%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes20%17–23.215.1%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work37.9%32.3–43.628.7%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking10.4%8.5–12.714.1%15.4%Better
Sleep under 7 hours43.7%36.1–51.339.1%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)12.8%10.3–15.49.9%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year83.4%80.4–86.380.4%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year43.5%39.3–47.756.9%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.5%83.4–87.685.8%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)81.7%79.4–83.978%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)64.7%59–70.167%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)74.5%65.9–81.777.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression22.3%18.9–2623.3%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely38%32.3–43.935.4%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support28.9%24.7–33.524.8%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food33.6%29.1–38.619.2%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing22.8%19.5–26.213.9%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off17.3%14.9–19.79.6%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation16.2%14–18.59.8%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)29.7%25.4–34.314%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability45.1%40–50.336.5%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs25.5%22.4–28.917.1%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering19.6%17.2–22.216.1%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty9.7%8.6–118.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty10.2%9–11.46%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone14.5%12.7–16.49.8%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing8.1%7.1–9.24.6%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 Camden

Is Camden a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Camden is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health. 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 Camden?

CDC estimates 49.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.6% and 58.1%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.

How many people in Camden have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–15.4%), 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 Camden 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 Camden.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.