Blocton Italian Catholic Cemetery · Photo: WillyT006 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, West Blocton is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
West Blocton trails Alabama on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Blocton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Blocton
West Blocton is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, West Blocton is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD and heart disease run high in West Blocton
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 8% across Alabama. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 7.3% across Alabama. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in West Blocton
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.6%), vs 15.1% across Alabama. Habits ↓
West Blocton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, West Blocton is healthier than 8%. Against the 2,538 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 38%. 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 West Blocton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind West Blocton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Blocton is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 20% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). West Blocton’s median household income is $40,560; among the 2,538 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 38%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 West Blocton adults…
West Blocton runs above AL on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
5.9 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near West Blocton
1 community health center in West Blocton, 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 West Blocton; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of West Blocton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How West Blocton adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
1 in 3 West Blocton 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% of West Blocton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
West Blocton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Blocton | D | 43.2% | 16.2% | 19.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Blocton adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Blocton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Blocton is better than Alabama on 0 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside West Blocton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Blocton | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.3%23.2–31.4 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.5–19.3 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.5–21.4 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.2%34.6–52.1 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.2%13.9–18.6 | 14.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 46%41.6–50.7 | 43.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.1%38.3–47.9 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.4%29.7–37.2 | 30.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–12 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.5–9.6 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%8.8–12 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.7%13.6–20.2 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.6%16.2–23.2 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.7%27.2–38.6 | 28.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.2–17 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.4%33.4–47.6 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.8%9.2–14.6 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%75.6–82.9 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.3%48.2–56.4 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.4%81.8–86.8 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.4–81.1 | 78% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.7%57–67.8 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72%63–79.4 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.5–29.5 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%29.9–41.1 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%21.8–30.2 | 24.8% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22%18.1–26.2 | 19.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.7%12.2–17.3 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.4%8.7–12 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%9.2–12.5 | 9.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17%13.8–20.4 | 14% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.1%35.5–46.6 | 36.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.3%17.2–23.3 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.8%16.1–21.6 | 16.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.7%8.5–11 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.1–13.7 | 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 West Blocton
Is West Blocton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Blocton is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 38%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Blocton?
CDC estimates 43.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 52.1%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Blocton?
Bibb Medical Center in Centreville, 11.6 miles in a straight line from West Blocton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in West Blocton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–14.6%), 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 West Blocton 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 West Blocton.
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.