Flintridge Building · Photo: Robert P Collins · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Fairfield is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Fairfield differs from Alabama on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fairfield. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fairfield
Making ends meet is harder in Fairfield
36.6% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 19.2% across Alabama (about twice the Alabama rate). Utility shut-off threats (19.9% vs 9.6%) and housing insecurity (25.7% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 31.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure run high in Fairfield
1 in 4 adults have diabetes (22.7%), vs 14.8% across Alabama. 1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.2%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. High blood pressure is also above the state: 53.4%, vs 43.3% across Alabama. In all, Fairfield runs above Alabama on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fairfield is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Fairfield is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, obesity, diabetes and exercise. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Fairfield, and more people treating it
53.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Alabama 43.3%), but 81% of them take medicine for it, vs 78% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fairfield is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Fairfield is healthier than 9%. Against the 5,192 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 27%. 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 Fairfield’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Fairfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairfield is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, #150 of 187 in Alabama. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 36% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Fairfield’s median household income is $48,456; among the 5,192 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Fairfield compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 10.4% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.8% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
31.6% of Fairfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Out of every 100 Fairfield adults…
Fairfield runs below AL on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fairfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Care in and near Fairfield
1 community health center in Fairfield, 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 Fairfield; ≈ 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 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Fairfield adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Fairfield runs above Alabama.
4 in 10 Fairfield 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.
Fairfield and the towns around it
Fairfield’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | D | 46.6% | 22.7% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Midfield | D | 45% | 19.4% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Birmingham | D | 42.2% | 19.2% | 16.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fairfield adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fairfield
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fairfield is better than Alabama on 7 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Fairfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fairfield | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.7%26.5–33 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.3–16.9 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.7–21.1 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.6%41.9–51.5 | 39.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 22.7%20.5–25.2 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 53.4%50.2–56.7 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%37–43.5 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%29–34.5 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.3–13.1 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–8.9 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.8%7.7–10 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.2%19.2–27.5 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%14.8–19.7 | 15.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.6%33.5–42 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.4%8.7–12.3 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.5%41–50.1 | 39.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%9–13 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.8%82.4–87.1 | 80.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.5%45.6–53.3 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%84.4–88.2 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81%78.9–83 | 78% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.8%67.8–75.6 | 67% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 85.3%80.7–89.2 | 77.9% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.1%17.6–23 | 23.3% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 42.6%38.7–46.9 | 35.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.9%27.4–34.9 | 24.8% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36.6%32.5–41.1 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.7%22.8–29.1 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.9%17.6–22.5 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.7%15.7–20 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.6%27.6–35.9 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.2%39.3–47.3 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.9%21.4–26.5 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.5–21 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.4%11.9–15 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 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 Fairfield
Is Fairfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairfield is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health, #150 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fairfield?
CDC estimates 46.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.9% and 51.5%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fairfield?
Princeton Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham, 4.6 miles in a straight line from Fairfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fairfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–13%), 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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield.
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.