Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Gadsden is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Gadsden trails Alabama on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gadsden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gadsden
Gadsden is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Gadsden is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Gadsden
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12%), vs 8% across Alabama. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. Diabetes is also above the state: 20.4%, vs 14.8% across Alabama. In all, Gadsden runs above Alabama on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Gadsden
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (31.6%), vs 19.2% across Alabama. Utility shut-off threats (16.4% vs 9.6%) and no reliable transportation (15.7% vs 9.8%) are higher too. 28% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% 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 Gadsden’s likely range.
What’s behind Gadsden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gadsden is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #184 of 187 in Alabama. All seven of Gadsden’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 49% of adults, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
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). Gadsden’s median household income is $40,345; among the 2,488 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 9%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Gadsden adults…
Gadsden runs above AL on 8 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.
28% of Gadsden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Care in and near Gadsden
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Gadsden, 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 Gadsden; ≈ 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.
24 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Gadsden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Gadsden adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Gadsden runs above Alabama.
2 in 5 Gadsden 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.
Gadsden and the towns around it
Gadsden’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden | D− | 49% | 20.4% | 21.6% | CDC place |
| Rainbow City | C− | 40.5% | 14.8% | 15.7% | CDC place |
| Attalla | D | 42.3% | 15.4% | 17% | CDC place |
| Glencoe | C− | 40.8% | 15.5% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Tidmore Bend | C− | 42% | 15.3% | 17.3% | CDC place |
| Reece City | — | — | — | — |
Reece City: 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 Gadsden adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gadsden
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gadsden is better than Alabama on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Gadsden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gadsden | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.7%30.4–37.2 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.8–21 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.7–22.2 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 49%41.6–56.3 | 39.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.4%18.1–22.9 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 51%46.7–55.2 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.5%38.2–46.9 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35%31.6–38.6 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.7 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.3–8.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12%10.8–13.2 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.8%19.3–26.7 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.6%19–24.3 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.2%35.3–45.3 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.1%9.8–14.6 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 48.7%42.3–55.2 | 39.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.3%12.4–16.3 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%77.7–84 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.3%44.4–52.2 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.5%81.6–85.4 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.5–81.4 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%58.4–67.9 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%66.5–80.5 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%21–28.2 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.6%32.6–42.8 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.5%23.8–31.4 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.6%28.4–34.8 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.7%19.2–24.3 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.4%14.5–18.2 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.7%14.1–17.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 28%25.2–30.8 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.8%42.2–51.4 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.8%22.3–27.5 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.1%19–23.3 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.9–11.1 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.8%9–10.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.6%13.3–16.1 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.7%7.1–8.3 | 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 Gadsden
Is Gadsden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gadsden is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #184 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 9%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gadsden?
CDC estimates 49% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.6% and 56.3%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gadsden?
Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Gadsden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gadsden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.4–16.3%), 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 Gadsden more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gadsden.
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.