Photo: SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Goodwater is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns
Goodwater differs from Alabama on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Goodwater. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Goodwater
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Goodwater
1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.5%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (21.8%), vs 14.8% across Alabama. COPD is also above the state: 10.2%, vs 8% across Alabama. In all, Goodwater runs above Alabama on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Alabama 18%), and stroke, diabetes and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Goodwater
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (30.9%), vs 19.2% across Alabama. Utility shut-off threats (15.2% vs 9.6%) and housing insecurity (21.7% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 25.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Goodwater is in the bottom 7% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Goodwater is healthier than only 7% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Goodwater, and more people treating it
54.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Alabama 43.3%), but 83.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 78% statewide. Checkups ↓
Goodwater is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Goodwater is healthier than 7%. Against the 2,248 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$49K), it’s healthier than 41%. 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 Goodwater’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Goodwater’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Goodwater is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 39% 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). Goodwater’s median household income is $39,511; among the 2,248 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$49K), it’s healthier than 41%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Goodwater compares well: binge drinking, 9.4% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.8% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Goodwater adults…
Goodwater runs below AL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Goodwater is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Goodwater as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25.1% of Goodwater adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Keeping up with care
Share of Goodwater adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Care in and near Goodwater
No hospital or community health center in Goodwater 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 Goodwater; ≈ 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.
How Goodwater adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Goodwater runs above Alabama.
2 in 5 Goodwater 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.
Goodwater and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwater | D | 46.5% | 21.8% | 17.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Goodwater adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Goodwater
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Goodwater is better than Alabama on 5 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Goodwater’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Goodwater | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.6%27.1–36.1 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%14.8–19.6 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.3–19.9 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.5%37.2–55.6 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 21.8%19.1–24.6 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 54.6%50–59 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.6%37.8–47.2 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.5%32.7–40.3 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.2–13.2 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%8.6–11.9 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.2%23.7–33.3 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8%14.7–20.9 | 15.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 38.2%31.9–44.3 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 9.4%7.5–11.7 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.6%37–52.2 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%9.1–15.2 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.8%81.9–87.6 | 80.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.6%48.3–56.7 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.9%85.9–89.9 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.4%81–85.6 | 78% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%60.3–70.9 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%71.3–84.9 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.7%16.5–23.1 | 23.3% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 38.9%33.1–44.6 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.1%27.5–37 | 24.8% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.9%25.9–36.3 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.7%18.4–25.3 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.2%12.9–17.6 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.4%12.3–16.8 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.1%20.4–29.7 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.1%38.3–49.6 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.4%22–28.9 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.1%15.4–20.8 | 16.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.3%8–10.7 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.2%11.3–15.2 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.3%6.1–8.4 | 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 Goodwater
Is Goodwater a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Goodwater is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 41%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Goodwater?
CDC estimates 46.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.2% and 55.6%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Goodwater?
Russell Medical Center in Alexander City, 11.9 miles in a straight line from Goodwater’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Goodwater have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–15.2%), 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 Goodwater 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 Goodwater.
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.