Kenworthy Hall · Photo: RuralSWAlabama · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Marion is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Marion differs from Alabama on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Marion. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Marion
Marion is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Marion is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Marion
36.8% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 19.2% across Alabama (about twice the Alabama rate). Utility shut-off threats (19.1% vs 9.6%) and no reliable transportation (18.7% vs 9.8%) are higher too. 32.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Marion
1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (6%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (20.2%), vs 14.8% across Alabama. COPD is also above the state: 10.5%, vs 8% across Alabama. In all, Marion runs above Alabama on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Marion is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Marion is healthier than 3%. Against the 1,405 towns with similar household incomes ($27K–$45K), it’s healthier than 22%. 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 Marion’s likely range.
What’s behind Marion’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Marion is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #177 of 187 in Alabama. All seven of Marion’s estimates fall in the lowest 13% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 49.5% of adults, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% 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). Marion’s median household income is $35,842; among the 1,405 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$45K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Marion compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.2% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 11.5% (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.
32.2% of Marion adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Out of every 100 Marion adults…
Marion runs below AL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Marion
2 community health centers in Marion, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Marion; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Marion adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Marion adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Marion runs above Alabama.
2 in 5 Marion 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.
Marion and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | D− | 49.5% | 20.2% | 19.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Marion adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Marion
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Marion is better than Alabama on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Marion’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Marion | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.3%29.6–37.4 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.3–19.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.5–23.3 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 49.5%41.3–57.6 | 39.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.2%18–22.5 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 50.2%46.4–54.3 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%35.6–43.8 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.9%28.9–35 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.3 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.6–6.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%9.3–12 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6%5.4–6.6 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.7%18.7–27.2 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.3%16.7–22.3 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.9%32.8–43.5 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.5%9.3–13.8 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44%36.6–51.6 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.4%10.7–16.6 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%78.6–84.7 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.4%44.1–52.7 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.8%78.2–83.4 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%76.2–80.3 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%61.5–71.8 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%70.6–84.6 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.3–26.2 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.5%34.3–46.5 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.2%26.5–36 | 24.8% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36.8%31.8–42.1 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.9%21.3–28.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.1%16.5–21.6 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.7%16–21.2 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.2%27.7–36.7 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.6%41.6–51.7 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.8%21.3–26.6 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%19.2–24.8 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.4%9.4–11.7 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.2%13.5–17.2 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.8%7–8.7 | 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 Marion
Is Marion a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Marion is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #177 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Marion?
CDC estimates 49.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.3% and 57.6%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Marion?
Hale County Hospital in Greensboro, 17.0 miles in a straight line from Marion’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Marion have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.7–16.6%), 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 Marion 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 Marion.
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.