Photo: Civilengtiger · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Helena is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Helena differs from Alabama on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Helena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Helena
Binge drinking is the habit Helena doesn’t win on
17.9% of adults binge drink, vs 14.1% across Alabama, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Helena
Helena runs below Alabama on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.5% vs 8%), stroke (2.4% vs 4.1%) and heart disease (4.4% vs 7.3%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (Alabama 18%). Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Helena
Grades next door run from Hoover (A) to Bessemer (D). Helena is an A. Around town ↓
Helena is an active town
Only 18.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.7% across Alabama. Habits ↓
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 Helena’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Helena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Helena is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #10 of 187 in Alabama. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 95% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 78%.
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). Helena’s median household income is $115,139; among the 6,418 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($86K–$144K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
7.4 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Helena adults…
Helena runs below AL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Helena residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Helena and the towns around it
Helena has the best Health Grade of the 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.
Care in and near Helena
No hospital or community health center in Helena 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 Helena; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Helena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Helena adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Helena does better than Alabama.
1 in 3 Helena 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.8% of Helena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Helena adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Helena
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Helena is better than Alabama on 22 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Helena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Helena | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14%12.2–15.9 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.2%9–11.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.2–16.6 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.6%26.6–37 | 39.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.5%8.4–10.8 | 14.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 36.3%32.7–39.9 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%34.1–41.4 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.7–27.1 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.4–10.6 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.2%5.8–8.7 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%8.5–11.8 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.4%15.6–21.4 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%15.1–20.9 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.1%30.4–39.9 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%5.1–7.2 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.9%75.6–81.9 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.9%67.7–73.9 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.5%86.7–89.9 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.4%70.3–76.2 | 78% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.8%63.5–71.7 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.8%74–84.8 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%19.4–25.6 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%27.5–35 | 35.4% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.6%18.1–23.5 | 24.8% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.9%8.5–11.6 | 19.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7.5–9.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%5.1–6.5 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.8%4.9–6.9 | 14% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25%21.9–28.2 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10%8.7–11.3 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.8%10.4–13.4 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.9–3.5 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6%5.4–6.8 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.3–2.8 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Helena
Is Helena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Helena is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #10 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Helena?
CDC estimates 31.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.6% and 37%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Helena?
Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Helena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Helena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–7.2%), 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 Helena more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Helena.
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.