Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Samson is healthier than 60%
Samson trails Alabama on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Samson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Samson
Dental care lags in Samson
46.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 24.2% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Samson is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Samson is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Samson has no health insurance
14.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Alabama. Checkups ↓
Samson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Samson is healthier than 8%. Against the 986 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 60%. 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 Samson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Samson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Samson is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 17% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Samson’s median household income is $33,424; among the 986 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 60%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Samson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Out of every 100 Samson adults…
Samson runs above AL on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Samson
No hospital or community health center in Samson 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 Samson; ≈ 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.
How Samson adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
4 in 10 Samson 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.
17.6% of Samson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Samson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samson | D | 42.6% | 15.9% | 19% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Samson adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Samson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Samson is better than Alabama on 0 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Samson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Samson | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.7%23.8–31.6 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.5–18.9 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.8–21.4 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.6%34.5–51.2 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.9%13.8–18.1 | 14.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43.6%39.2–48 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.6%37.2–46.2 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.3%28.8–35.8 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.3–9.4 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.2%8.6–11.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 4.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.2%19.9–28.6 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19%16–22.1 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.6%27.4–38.1 | 28.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.4–17 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.4%36.2–50.7 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.1%11.4–17 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.5–82.5 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.6%42.4–50.8 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.5%81.1–85.8 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.4–80.7 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.9%56.5–67 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.6%63.9–80.2 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.6–29.5 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%30.9–42 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.3%22.2–30.5 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.8%20–27.9 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.5%14–19.1 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.9%9.3–12.5 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.7%10–13.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.6%14.3–20.7 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.7%35.6–45.9 | 36.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.9%16.9–22.8 | 17.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%16.7–21.7 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.4–10.8 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.4%6.4–8.3 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12%10.3–13.5 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 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 Samson
Is Samson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Samson is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Samson?
CDC estimates 42.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.5% and 51.2%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Samson?
Wiregrass Medical Center in Geneva, 10.1 miles in a straight line from Samson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Samson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.4–17%), 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 Samson 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 Samson.
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.