Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Within Tennessee, Alcoa is healthier than 55% of graded towns
On every measure CDC estimates, Alcoa looks like Tennessee as a whole.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alcoa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alcoa
Alcoa looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 55% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 22% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Alcoa has a community health center but no hospital
Cherokee Health Systems is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, 4.2 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Tennessee figure falls outside Alcoa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Alcoa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alcoa is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns, #79 of 176 in Tennessee. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 39% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Alcoa’s median household income is $65,714; among the 10,051 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Care in and near Alcoa
1 community health center in Alcoa, 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 Alcoa; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Alcoa adults…
On every condition, Alcoa is about the same as Tennessee. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
4.1 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Alcoa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Alcoa adults are doing
About the same as Tennessee on each measure.
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.
14.5% of Alcoa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Alcoa and the towns around it
Alcoa’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoa | C− | 38.4% | 13.8% | 17.6% | CDC place |
| Eagleton Village | D | 39% | 14.3% | 20.5% | CDC place |
| Rockford | — | — | — | — | |
| Maryville | C+ | 35.3% | 12.2% | 15.8% | CDC place |
| Knoxville | C | 36% | 12.6% | 17.8% | CDC place |
| Louisville | C+ | 36.1% | 13.7% | 16.6% | CDC place |
Rockford: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alcoa adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alcoa
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alcoa is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Alcoa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alcoa | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.9%20–25.8 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.4–17.1 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.4–22 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.4%31.3–45 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8%11.9–15.6 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%36–44 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%33.9–42.2 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.5%28.1–34.6 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.4 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.6–9.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.2–7.8 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.8%7.7–10 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.8–17.1 | 14.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%15–20.3 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.2%22.7–31.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%11.7–17.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1%34–46.3 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.6%9.8–13.6 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.9%75.2–82 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.3%53.7–60.9 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.5–88.1 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.6–79 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.5%59.5–69.1 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%67–81.4 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.8%25.7–33.7 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27%23.2–30.6 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.2%14.4–18 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.6–14.7 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%7.9–10.3 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%8–9.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.5%12.8–16.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.4%32.7–41.6 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.4–18.8 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.1%16–20.2 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.7–11 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 4.1% | 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 Tennessee figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Alcoa
Is Alcoa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alcoa is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #79 of 176 in Tennessee. 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 Alcoa?
CDC estimates 38.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.3% and 45%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alcoa?
Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, 4.2 miles in a straight line from Alcoa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Alcoa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–13.6%), against 11.6% across Tennessee.
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 Alcoa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alcoa.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Tennessee 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.