Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Montgomery as a whole is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns
Montgomery differs from Alabama on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Montgomery. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Montgomery
Making ends meet is harder in Montgomery
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.4%), vs 19.2% across Alabama. Utility shut-off threats (15.1% vs 9.6%) and housing insecurity (20.6% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 23.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Obesity runs high in Montgomery
46.4% of adults have obesity, vs 39.4% across Alabama. Conditions ↓
Montgomery has four hospitals within its borders
4 hospitals and 1 community health center are inside Montgomery. Baptist Medical Center East is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Montgomery’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Montgomery’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Montgomery is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns, #119 of 187 in Alabama. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 45% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Montgomery’s median household income is $56,811; among the 7,952 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Alabama towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Montgomery is healthier than 37% of graded towns, against 19% nationally.
Where Montgomery compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 195,300 residents, Montgomery is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.1% of Montgomery adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Care in and near Montgomery
4 hospitals and 1 community health center in Montgomery.
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 Montgomery; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Montgomery adults…
Montgomery runs below AL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
34 miles of trails across 56 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Montgomery adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Montgomery adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
4 in 10 Montgomery 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.
Montgomery and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | C− | 46.4% | 16.7% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Pike Road | A− | 38.2% | 10.9% | 9.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Montgomery adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Montgomery
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Montgomery is better than Alabama on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Montgomery’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Montgomery | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.7%23.1–28.6 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13–16.3 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.6–19.7 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.4%40.2–52.7 | 39.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.7%14.8–18.8 | 14.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 45.9%42–49.9 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%34–41.9 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%26.8–32.9 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.4 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.3–7.6 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.7%16.8–22.8 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%13.4–17.5 | 15.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.4%27.4–35.7 | 28.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10.1–15 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.9%37.9–48 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11%9.6–12.6 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.7%79.7–85.6 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.8%51.3–58.4 | 56.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%84.2–87.6 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%75.2–80.3 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%62.4–70.7 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.3%74.5–85.2 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.4–24.9 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.9%32.1–41.2 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.6%24–31.1 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.4%24.7–29.9 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.6%18.4–22.8 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.1%13.5–16.8 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.9%12.5–15.3 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.1%20.8–25.3 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.3%34.3–42.5 | 36.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19%17–21.1 | 17.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%15.2–18.8 | 16.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.7 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7.7%7.1–8.3 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.5%10.3–12.6 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.5–6.4 | 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 Montgomery
Is Montgomery a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Montgomery is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #119 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Montgomery?
CDC estimates 46.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.2% and 52.7%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Montgomery?
Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery, 1.6 miles in a straight line from Montgomery’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Montgomery have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–12.6%), 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 Montgomery more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Montgomery.
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.