Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Columbia residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Columbia, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbia
Cancer runs high in Columbia
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 8.2% across Alabama. Conditions ↓
Fewer Columbia adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, utility bills and getting around all run below Alabama. 1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 5 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Columbia’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Columbia adults…
Columbia runs above AL on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.3% of Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Care in and near Columbia
No hospital or community health center in Columbia 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 Columbia; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Columbia adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
2 in 5 Columbia 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.
Columbia and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbia adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Columbia
Why doesn’t Columbia have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Columbia.
What hospital is closest to Columbia?
Southeast Health Medical Center in Dothan, 15.8 miles in a straight line from Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbia.
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. 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.