On CDC estimates, Lipscomb is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Lipscomb differs from Alabama on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lipscomb. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lipscomb
Making ends meet is harder in Lipscomb
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (41.9%), about twice the Alabama rate. Utility shut-off threats (21.3% vs 9.6%) and housing insecurity (28.9% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 36% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Lipscomb adults get no exercise
43.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.7% across Alabama. Habits ↓
Lipscomb is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lipscomb is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Lipscomb adults live with a disability
1 in 2 adults live with a disability (47.7%, vs 36.5% across Alabama). The biggest difference is vision loss: 11.7% vs 6%. Disability ↓
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 Lipscomb’s likely range.
What’s behind Lipscomb’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lipscomb is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of Lipscomb’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 23.1% of adults, against 14.8% across Alabama and 12% 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). Lipscomb’s median household income is $41,875; among the 2,984 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Lipscomb compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.8% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 11.6% (U.S. 15.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
36% of Lipscomb adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
1 mile of trails across 1 park or preserve
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lipscomb adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Out of every 100 Lipscomb adults…
Lipscomb runs below AL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Lipscomb residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Lipscomb
No hospital or community health center in Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb; ≈ 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 Lipscomb adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Lipscomb adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Lipscomb runs above Alabama.
4 in 10 Lipscomb 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.
Lipscomb and the towns around it
Lipscomb’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lipscomb | D− | 46.6% | 23.1% | 21.7% | CDC place |
| Bessemer | D | 44.7% | 21.9% | 18.9% | CDC place |
| Birmingham | D | 42.2% | 19.2% | 16.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Lipscomb
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lipscomb is better than Alabama on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Lipscomb’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lipscomb | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 35.3%31.5–39.1 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.9–20.1 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.7–22.3 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.6%41.9–51.6 | 39.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 23.1%20.7–25.5 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 51.5%48.2–54.8 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.7%38.3–45.2 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.2%29.4–35.1 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.7 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.9–9.9 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11%9.6–12.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.3%17.7–25 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.7%18.7–24.7 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 43.1%38.4–47.6 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.6%9.7–13.7 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.1%39.7–48.6 | 39.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.8%15.9–22.1 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.3%78.5–84 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 44.4%40.6–48.2 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.5–85.8 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%77.4–81.9 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%61.5–69.8 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.8%76.5–86.3 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%19.3–25.1 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 42.9%38.6–47.2 | 35.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%27.7–35.2 | 24.8% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 41.9%37.3–46.4 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.9%25.6–32.5 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 21.3%18.9–24 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 19.5%17.2–22.1 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36%31.6–40.5 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.7%43.4–51.8 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 26.9%24–29.8 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%19.3–24.6 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 11.7%10.5–13 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.4%13.6–17.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.9%7.9–10 | 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 Lipscomb
Is Lipscomb a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lipscomb is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lipscomb?
CDC estimates 46.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.9% and 51.6%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lipscomb?
Medical West, An Affiliate of UAB Health System in Bessemer, 4.9 miles in a straight line from Lipscomb’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lipscomb have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.9–22.1%), 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 Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb.
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.