Florence, Alabama Music Enterprises (FAME) Recording Studios · Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainWithin Alabama, Muscle Shoals is healthier than 73% of graded towns
Muscle Shoals beats Alabama on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Muscle Shoals. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals 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 ↓
Fewer Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Muscle Shoals’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Muscle Shoals is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, #51 of 187 in Alabama. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 59% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 34%).
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). Muscle Shoals’ median household income is $75,894; among the 10,832 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 57%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.2% of Muscle Shoals adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Out of every 100 Muscle Shoals adults…
Muscle Shoals runs below AL on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Muscle Shoals
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Muscle Shoals, 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 Muscle Shoals; ≈ 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.
6.9 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Muscle Shoals adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Muscle Shoals adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
1 in 3 Muscle Shoals 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.
Muscle Shoals and the towns around it
Muscle Shoals has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Shoals | B− | 35.7% | 13.1% | 14% | CDC place |
| Sheffield | D | 41.2% | 17.5% | 19.8% | CDC place |
| Tuscumbia | C | 37.5% | 15% | 15.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Muscle Shoals adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Muscle Shoals
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Muscle Shoals is better than Alabama on 6 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Muscle Shoals’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Muscle Shoals | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%17.5–23.2 | 22.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.8–15.3 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.8–18.9 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%28.2–43.5 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.1%11.3–14.9 | 14.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41%36.7–45.3 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.7%36.4–45.1 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.5%27–33.8 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.5 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.9–9.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6–7.5 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%10.9–16.4 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%11.7–16.3 | 15.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.2%21–29.6 | 28.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.8%12.1–17.7 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.8%32.7–47 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.6%7.2–10.1 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%76.7–83.4 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.2%57.2–65 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.8–88.4 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%74.6–80.2 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.2%63.1–72.8 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%70.2–84 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.4–27.8 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%29.4–40 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%20.7–27.9 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.1%13.1–17.5 | 19.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%10.1–13.5 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%7.1–9.1 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.2%8.7–12 | 14% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.3%29.8–38.8 | 36.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.3%13.3–17.4 | 17.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.2–17 | 16.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7–8.9 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.5–5.5 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 9.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 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 Muscle Shoals
Is Muscle Shoals a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Muscle Shoals is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #51 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Muscle Shoals?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.2% and 43.5%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Muscle Shoals?
North Alabama Shoals Hospital in Muscle Shoals, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Muscle Shoals’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Muscle Shoals have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–10.1%), 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 Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals.
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.