Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Cottonwood is healthier than 65%
Cottonwood differs from Alabama on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cottonwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cottonwood
Cottonwood is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Cottonwood is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, obesity and diabetes. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Cottonwood
50.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 23% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Cottonwood
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), vs 8% across Alabama. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.3%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.1%, vs 7.3% across Alabama. In all, Cottonwood runs above Alabama on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Cottonwood, and more people treating it
47.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Alabama 43.3%), but 81.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 78% statewide. Checkups ↓
Cottonwood is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Cottonwood is healthier than 10%. Against the 1,172 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 65%. 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 Cottonwood’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Cottonwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cottonwood is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 24% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Cottonwood’s median household income is $34,468; among the 1,172 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 65%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Cottonwood compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Cottonwood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Out of every 100 Cottonwood adults…
Cottonwood runs above AL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Cottonwood
No hospital or community health center in Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood; ≈ 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.
0.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Cottonwood adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
2 in 5 Cottonwood 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.
17.1% of Cottonwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Cottonwood and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood | D | 41.4% | 17.7% | 17.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cottonwood adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cottonwood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cottonwood is better than Alabama on 1 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Cottonwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cottonwood | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.8%24.1–31.5 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.4–18.8 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.3–20.9 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.4%34.7–48.3 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.7%15.4–20.2 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.7%43.4–51.8 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.2%37.8–46.5 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.1%31.5–38.7 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–12.1 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%7.9–10.1 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%8.9–11.9 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.7–5.8 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23%19.2–27.2 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%14.9–20.7 | 15.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 32%27.2–36.9 | 28.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.7%10.4–15.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.9%32.8–45.2 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.1%8.6–13.7 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%78.6–84.8 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.8%46.8–55 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.5–87.7 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.4%78.8–83.7 | 78% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68%63.1–72.7 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.4%70.3–83.6 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.2–28.8 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.8%33.7–44 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%23.9–31.9 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22%18.6–25.7 | 19.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.5%13.2–17.8 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%9.1–12.2 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%9.4–12.5 | 9.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.1%14.3–20.1 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.7%37.8–47.6 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.4%18.5–24.2 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%15.6–20.4 | 16.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.2%8.9–11.4 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.4–13.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 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 Cottonwood
Is Cottonwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cottonwood is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cottonwood?
CDC estimates 41.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.7% and 48.3%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cottonwood?
Southeast Health Medical Center in Dothan, 11.8 miles in a straight line from Cottonwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cottonwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.6–13.7%), 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 Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood.
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.