Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Margaret is healthier than 26%
Margaret differs from Alabama on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Margaret. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Margaret
Margaret looks healthier next to Alabama than next to the country
It’s healthier than 73% of the 187 Alabama towns we grade, but 51% of towns nationwide. Much of Alabama scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Margaret’s lead shrinks
Margaret is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, but 26% of the 8,325 towns with similar household incomes ($76K–$127K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Margaret
Margaret runs below Alabama on seven chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.9% vs 7.3%), stroke (2.8% vs 4.1%) and diabetes (10.6% vs 14.8%). A young population is part of it: only 9% of residents are 65 or older (Alabama 18%). Conditions ↓
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 Margaret’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Margaret’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Margaret is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, #52 of 187 in Alabama. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 75% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 20%).
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). Margaret’s median household income is $101,802; among the 8,325 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($76K–$127K), it’s healthier than 26%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Few Alabama towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Margaret is healthier than 73% of graded towns, against 51% nationally.
Out of every 100 Margaret adults…
Margaret runs below AL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of Margaret residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Margaret
No hospital or community health center in Margaret 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 Margaret; ≈ 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.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Margaret adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Margaret adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
2 in 5 Margaret 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.
10.8% of Margaret adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Margaret and the towns around it
Margaret’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret | B− | 40.1% | 10.6% | 14.7% | CDC place |
| Argo | B+ | 36.6% | 9.9% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Odenville | B− | 38.6% | 11.4% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Trussville | A | 31.2% | 10.8% | 10.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Margaret adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Margaret
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Margaret is better than Alabama on 10 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Margaret’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Margaret | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.9%16.4–21.5 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.5%11–14.2 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.3–20.8 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%32.6–47.9 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.6%9.1–12.1 | 14.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%32.4–40.9 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.3–42.2 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.4%22.3–28.6 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.7 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.3–5.4 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.4%10–15.1 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.5–17.2 | 15.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.9%20.7–29.3 | 28.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14–20.6 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%31.4–44.7 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%7.3–10.4 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.4–81.7 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60%56–63.9 | 56.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83.3–87.3 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%69.6–76.1 | 78% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%58.8–68.7 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%70.7–84.2 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%21.8–29.5 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.2%33.1–43.7 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.3%22.7–30.4 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.1%13.7–18.8 | 19.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%11.4–15.4 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.4–9.9 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%7.5–9.8 | 9.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.8%9.1–12.8 | 14% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.9%27.6–36.4 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.3%10.6–14.1 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%14–18.1 | 16.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3–3.7 | 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 Margaret
Is Margaret a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Margaret is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #52 of 187 in Alabama. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Margaret?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 47.9%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Margaret?
St. Vincent's St. Clair in Pell City, 10.6 miles in a straight line from Margaret’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Margaret have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–10.4%), 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 Margaret more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Margaret.
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.