Shawmut Historic District · Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Valley is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Valley trails Alabama on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Valley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Valley
Making ends meet is harder in Valley
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.6%), vs 19.2% across Alabama. Utility shut-off threats (12.2% vs 9.6%) and housing insecurity (17.3% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 19% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Valley
50.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 20.6% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓
COPD and stroke run high in Valley
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.5%), vs 8% across Alabama. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.8%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. Conditions ↓
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 Valley’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Valley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Valley is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #143 of 187 in Alabama. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 24% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Valley’s median household income is $51,661; among the 6,345 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19% of Valley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Keeping up with care
Share of Valley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Out of every 100 Valley adults…
Valley runs above AL on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Valley
1 hospital in Valley, 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 Valley; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Valley adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
4 in 10 Valley 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.
Valley and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Valley adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Valley
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Valley is better than Alabama on 0 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside Valley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Valley | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.8%23.7–30.1 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.9–17.7 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.7–21.1 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.5%32.6–48.9 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.6%14.5–18.8 | 14.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 46.2%41.8–50.6 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.8–44.7 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32%28.7–35.6 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.2–8.9 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.5%8.4–10.6 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.6%17.1–24.5 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%15.1–20.2 | 15.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 33.5%28.5–38.6 | 28.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10–15.1 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%34–48.2 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.6%9.7–13.6 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77–83.7 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.6%46.6–54.7 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.6%82.6–86.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.6–80.7 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.5%58.3–68.7 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.4%68.6–83.1 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%19.7–27.1 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.3%31.2–41.9 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.5%23.6–31.5 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.6%21.3–27.8 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.3%15–19.7 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.2%10.6–13.8 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.1%10.7–13.7 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19%16.3–21.8 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.2%35.4–45 | 36.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20%17.7–22.5 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%16.2–20.4 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.5–13.1 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%5.1–6.2 | 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 Valley
Is Valley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Valley is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #143 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 26%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Valley?
CDC estimates 40.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 48.9%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Valley?
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center in Lagrange, 16.1 miles in a straight line from Valley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Valley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–13.6%), 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 Valley 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 Valley.
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.