Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Irondale is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns
Irondale beats Alabama on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Irondale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Irondale
Irondale is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Irondale is healthier than 75%. Against the 10,701 towns with similar household incomes ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 90%. Health Grade ↓
Irondale keeps up with checkups
It beats Alabama on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (63.8% vs 56.9%) and cholesterol checks (87.7% vs 85.8%). Checkups ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Irondale
Irondale runs below Alabama on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.7% vs 8%), heart disease (5.8% vs 7.3%) and stroke (3.3% vs 4.1%). Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Irondale
Grades next door run from Mountain Brook (A+) to Birmingham (D). Irondale is a B+. Around town ↓
Fewer Irondale 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 Irondale’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Irondale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Irondale is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, #25 of 187 in Alabama. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 89% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 45%).
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). Irondale’s median household income is $72,343; among the 10,701 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 90%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Irondale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Out of every 100 Irondale adults…
Irondale runs below AL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Irondale and the towns around it
Irondale’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irondale | B+ | 33.5% | 12.4% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| Birmingham | D | 42.2% | 19.2% | 16.6% | CDC place |
| Trussville | A | 31.2% | 10.8% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Leeds | B− | 35.2% | 13.1% | 14% | CDC place |
| Vestavia Hills | A | 29.1% | 10.5% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Mountain Brook | A+ | 26.8% | 9% | 6.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
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 Irondale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Care in and near Irondale
No hospital or community health center in Irondale 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 Irondale; ≈ 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.
8.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Irondale adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Irondale does better than Alabama.
4 in 10 Irondale 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Irondale adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Irondale
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Irondale is better than Alabama on 22 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Irondale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Irondale | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17%15.1–19.1 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.1%9.8–12.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.6–17 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.5%29.4–37.9 | 39.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 12.4%10.9–14 | 14.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 38.3%35.2–41.5 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%35.6–42.2 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26%23.5–28.5 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.7%5–6.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.6 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.5%7.8–11.6 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.1%9.6–12.7 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%20.6–26.6 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.6–18.7 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%30.7–38.8 | 39.1% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%7.2–9.9 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.5–83.1 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.8%60.3–67.1 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.7%86.1–89.2 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.7–79.7 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.5%70.8–78 | 67% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 84.8%80.3–88.7 | 77.9% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%19.5–25.3 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.5%32.9–40.3 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22%19.4–24.9 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%13–16.7 | 19.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%10.1–13 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.9%8.5–11.3 | 14% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.9%27.8–34.2 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.4%11.8–15 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.9–15 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4.1–5 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 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 Irondale
Is Irondale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Irondale is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #25 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Irondale?
CDC estimates 33.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.4% and 37.9%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Irondale?
St. Vincent's East in Birmingham, 3.7 miles in a straight line from Irondale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Irondale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–9.9%), 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 Irondale 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 Irondale.
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.