On CDC estimates, Alabama is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns
Alabama differs from New York on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 14013, 14125, 14105, 14001. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alabama
Depression is more common in Alabama
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (21.4%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 17.1%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Alabama
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15%), vs 11.3% across New York. 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 New York figure falls outside Alabama’s likely range; Alabama’s figures come from ZIP codes 14013, 14125, 14105, 14001, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Alabama’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alabama is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 77% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 41%).
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). Alabama’s median household income is $81,833; among the 10,640 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 55%, about where its income would put it.
How Alabama adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Alabama runs above New York.
1 in 3 Alabama 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
22 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Alabama adults…
Alabama runs above NY on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of Alabama residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Alabama
No hospital or community health center in Alabama 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 Alabama; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Alabama adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.9% of Alabama adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Alabama and the towns around it
Alabama’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | B | 31.7% | 11.4% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Pembroke | B+ | 30.4% | 10.7% | 13.8% | ZIP codes |
| Shelby | B− | 33.7% | 11.5% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Oakfield | B− | 31.6% | 11% | 15.8% | ZIP 14125 |
| Royalton | B | 37.5% | 10.3% | 13.5% | ZIP codes |
| Newstead | B+ | 32.3% | 10.7% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| Barre | C | 34.2% | 11.8% | 17.2% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alabama adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alabama
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alabama is better than New York on 2 and worse on 8; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Alabama’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alabama | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.8%16.1–21.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%12.9–16.8 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.2–19.4 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.7%25.2–38.9 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%9.9–13 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%31.4–39.4 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33.4–41.8 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.1%25.8–32.4 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.3–7.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4.2 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.7–15.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%12.6–17.7 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.9%21.6–30.6 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.2–20.2 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2%32.3–45.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%5.1–7.8 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.1–83.4 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.5%59.1–66.2 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%86.8–90.1 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%75–80.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.9%62.3–71.8 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%71.6–84.5 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.4%18.4–24.9 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%27.4–37.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%20.8–28.3 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.5%12.1–17.4 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.2%10.4–14.4 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%7.1–9.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.9%10.7–15.5 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%26.1–34.6 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%12.7–17 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%11.9–15.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.2–7.8 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.5–5.7 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.5–9.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.5–4.5 | 3.8% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 New York figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Alabama
Is Alabama a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alabama is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 55%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alabama?
CDC estimates 31.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.2% and 38.9%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alabama?
Medina Memorial Hospital in Medina, 9.4 miles in a straight line from Alabama’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Alabama have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–7.8%), against 7.9% across New York.
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 Alabama 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 Alabama.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York 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.