Foley Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase) · Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Alabama, Foley is healthier than 67% of graded towns
Foley differs from Alabama on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Foley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Foley
Foley is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Foley is healthier than 46%. Against the 10,129 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 62%. Health Grade ↓
Foley looks healthier next to Alabama than next to the country
It’s healthier than 67% of the 187 Alabama towns we grade, but 46% of towns nationwide. Much of Alabama scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and heart disease run high in Foley
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.4%), vs 8.2% across Alabama. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.8%), vs 7.3% across Alabama. In all, Foley runs above Alabama on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (Alabama 18%), and cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Foley keeps up with checkups
It beats Alabama on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (61% vs 56.9%) and cholesterol checks (88.3% vs 85.8%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Foley adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Alabama. 1 in 7 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 Foley’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Foley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Foley is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #61 of 187 in Alabama. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 81% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Foley’s median household income is $66,336; among the 10,129 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 62%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Foley compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.3% (U.S. 76.5%); colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75), 72.6% (U.S. 65.5%).
Out of every 100 Foley adults…
Foley runs above AL on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Foley is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Foley as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Foley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.9% of Foley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Care in and near Foley
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Foley, 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 Foley; ≈ 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.
15 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Foley adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Foley does better than Alabama.
1 in 3 Foley 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.
Foley and the towns around it
Foley’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foley | B− | 35.7% | 15.1% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Gulf Shores | B+ | 33.7% | 12.8% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Summerdale | C− | 38.1% | 14.7% | 18.3% | CDC place |
| Orange Beach | A− | 32.5% | 11.8% | 10.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Foley adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Foley
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Foley is better than Alabama on 9 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Foley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Foley | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.6%18.9–24.5 | 22.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.7–16.3 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.2–16.9 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%30.1–41.4 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.2–17.1 | 14.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 47.2%43.3–51 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44.8%40.8–48.7 | 40.7% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.2%32.9–39.5 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.4%10.3–12.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.9–9.8 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.7–10.1 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–4.9 | 4.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.4%10.8–16.3 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%11.4–15.7 | 15.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.3%24.3–32.7 | 28.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%10.6–15.4 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.7%30.8–41 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8.2–11.4 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%78.9–84.7 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61%57.3–64.7 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.7–89.8 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%78.7–83.6 | 78% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.6%68.3–76.5 | 67% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%68.9–82 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.9–25.3 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32%27.8–36.5 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%18.7–25 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%12.9–17.3 | 19.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.6%9.1–12.1 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%5.9–7.9 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.9%8.4–11.6 | 14% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.4%33.4–41.6 | 36.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%16–20.7 | 17.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%13–16.5 | 16.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.3–11.6 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5–6.2 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8–10.2 | 9.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 4.6% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Foley
Is Foley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Foley is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #61 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Foley?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 41.4%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Foley?
Baldwin Health in Foley, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Foley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Foley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–11.4%), 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 Foley more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Foley.
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.