Alabama Great Southern Railroad Passenger Depot · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Fort Payne is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Fort Payne trails Alabama on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fort Payne. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fort Payne
Fort Payne is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Fort Payne is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Fort Payne
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.2%), vs 19.2% across Alabama. No reliable transportation (12.5% vs 9.8%) and housing insecurity (16.9% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 19.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Fort Payne
50.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 20.7% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Fort Payne is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Fort Payne is healthier than 9%. Against the 4,827 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$59K), 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 Fort Payne’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Fort Payne’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Payne is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, #152 of 187 in Alabama. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 27% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Fort Payne’s median household income is $47,479; among the 4,827 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.6% of Fort Payne adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fort Payne adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Out of every 100 Fort Payne adults…
Fort Payne runs above AL on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Fort Payne
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Fort Payne, 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 Fort Payne; ≈ 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.
17 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How Fort Payne adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
1 in 3 Fort Payne 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.
Fort Payne and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Payne | D | 39.2% | 15.5% | 19.3% | CDC place |
| Hammondville | — | — | — | — | |
| Valley Head | — | — | — | — | |
| Pine Ridge | — | — | — | — |
Hammondville, Valley Head and Pine Ridge: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fort Payne adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fort Payne
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fort Payne is better than Alabama on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Fort Payne’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fort Payne | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.8%25.7–32.2 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.5–19.6 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17–21.5 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.2%31.5–47.3 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.5%13.6–17.6 | 14.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43.5%39.3–47.8 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.4%37–45.9 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.2%28–34.6 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.6 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.7–9.4 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–4.9 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.7%17.2–24.8 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.3%16.8–22 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.3%29.4–39.5 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.4–17 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.3%33.6–47.4 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.4%14.2–18.9 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%74.1–81.4 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.3%46.4–54.3 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%80–84.4 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%73.1–78.6 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.1%55.8–66.2 | 67% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73%64.8–80.3 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.3%22.5–30.3 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.6%30.5–41.1 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.3%21.7–29.2 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.2%22.3–28.5 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.9%14.8–19.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%11.1–14 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.6%17.1–22.2 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.1%37.5–47 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.2%18–22.7 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.2%18–22.5 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10%8.9–11.1 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.4%11.2–13.8 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.4–6.5 | 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 Fort Payne
Is Fort Payne a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Payne is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health, #152 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 Fort Payne?
CDC estimates 39.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 47.3%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fort Payne?
Dekalb Regional Medical Center in Fort Payne, 4.0 miles in a straight line from Fort Payne’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fort Payne have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.2–18.9%), 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 Fort Payne 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 Fort Payne.
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.