Photo: Crimson Pictures · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Orange Beach is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Orange Beach differs from Alabama on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 21 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Orange Beach. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Orange Beach
Cancer runs high in Orange Beach
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 8.2% across Alabama. Conditions ↓
Orange Beach keeps up with checkups
It beats Alabama on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (68.2% vs 56.9%) and cholesterol checks (90.1% vs 85.8%). Checkups ↓
Orange Beach is an active town
Only 20.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.7% across Alabama. The town has 13 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Orange Beach’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Orange Beach’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Orange Beach is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, #16 of 187 in Alabama. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 92% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 54%.
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). Orange Beach’s median household income is $97,736; among the 8,911 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($73K–$122K), it’s healthier than 81%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Orange Beach adults…
Orange Beach runs below AL on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Orange Beach adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
13 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Orange Beach
No hospital or community health center in Orange Beach 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 Orange Beach; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Orange Beach adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Orange Beach does better than Alabama.
3 in 10 Orange Beach 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.
5.1% of Orange Beach adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Orange Beach and the towns around it
Orange Beach has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Beach | A− | 32.5% | 11.8% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Gulf Shores | B+ | 33.7% | 12.8% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Foley | B− | 35.7% | 15.1% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Orange Beach adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Orange Beach
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Orange Beach is better than Alabama on 21 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Orange Beach’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Orange Beach | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.4%13.4–17.7 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.4–13.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.9–15.3 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.5%27.3–37.9 | 39.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.3–13.7 | 14.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 42.3%38.4–46.1 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.9%39.8–48 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33%29.7–36.5 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9%7.9–10.1 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.2–12.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.1–7.7 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.3%5.5–7.3 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.6 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.7%6.2–9.5 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.6%8.9–12.5 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.8%17.5–24.5 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.5–17.9 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.2%28.4–38.4 | 39.1% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.9%4.9–7.2 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%78.7–84.5 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.2%64.8–71.6 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.1%88.7–91.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%77.1–82.7 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.7%69.5–77.7 | 67% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%70.4–83.3 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%19–25.3 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.3%25.3–33.7 | 35.4% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.7%15.9–21.8 | 24.8% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.8%7.3–10.5 | 19.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.9%5.8–8.1 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5%4.3–5.7 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.1%4.2–6.3 | 14% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26–33.7 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%11.2–14.9 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%10.2–13.3 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.4 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.2–4 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.3 | 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 Orange Beach
Is Orange Beach a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Orange Beach is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #16 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 81%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Orange Beach?
CDC estimates 32.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.3% and 37.9%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Orange Beach?
Baldwin Health in Foley, 10.6 miles in a straight line from Orange Beach’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Orange Beach have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.2%), 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 Orange Beach more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Orange Beach.
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.