Health · Locust Fork
Locust Fork, AL health
Locust Fork differs from Alabama on 5 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (10.6% vs 8%) and more smokers (19.5% vs 15.1%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Locust ForkTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C−
Locust Fork’s Health Grade: C−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Locust Fork is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, and than 39% of towns with similar incomes.
C-Self-rated healthDPhysical distressC-Mental distressC+ObesityC-DiabetesDSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 16%
Less healthyHealthier
Alabama towns we grade (319)Healthier than 41%
Towns with similar incomes, $38K–$63K (5,288)Healthier than 39%
Better than its income would suggest. Locust Fork is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C−.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Locust Fork could be anywhere from D− to B−.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Alabama ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Locust Fork with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Locust Fork uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Locust Fork compares with Alabama
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
37.4% have obesity
0 better9 close3 worse
Habits
31.1% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
79.6% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
34.8% feel lonely
0 better4 close1 worse
Everyday needs
18.2% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
40.3% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Locust Fork adults…
43 of every 100 Locust Fork adults have high blood pressure
Alabama: 43 in 100 · too close to call · margin 38.9–47.8%
Bars show Locust Fork; the black tick is Alabama. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Locust Fork, betterLocust Fork, worseToo close to callAlabama
Get no exerciseshare of adults
31.1% Locust Fork
AL 28.7%
AL 28.7%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
37.1% Locust Fork
AL 39.1%
AL 39.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.2% Locust Fork
AL 14.1%
AL 14.1%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
19.5% Locust Fork
AL 15.1%
AL 15.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Locust Fork adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Yearly checkup
AL 80%Dentist visit
AL 57%Cholesterol check
AL 86%Colon screening
AL 67%Mammogram
AL 78%Taking BP meds
AL 78%1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Locust Fork 10.5% · Alabama 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection
How Locust Fork adults are doing
1 in 3Locust Fork adults feel lonely
34.8% · Alabama 35.4% · too close to call
1 in 4Locust Fork adults have been diagnosed with depression
26.1% · Alabama 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 4Locust Fork adults lack social or emotional support
24% · Alabama 24.8% · too close to call
1 in 5Locust Fork adults are in frequent mental distress
18.7% · Alabama 17.2% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 5
Locust Fork adults worry about having enough food
18.2% · AL 19.2% · about the same
1 in 8
Locust Fork adults worry about keeping their housing
12.3% · AL 13.9% · about the same
1 in 12
Locust Fork adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.4% · AL 9.6% · about the same
1 in 11
Locust Fork adults lack reliable transportation
9.3% · AL 9.8% · about the same
13.6% of Locust Fork adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Disability
Living with a disability
40.3%
of Locust Fork adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs19.2%
Thinking or memory18.5%
Hearing10.2%
Errands alone11.2%
Vision6.4%
Dressing or bathing5.1%
Black tick: Alabama. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Locust Fork
No hospital or community health center in Locust Fork itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERSt. Vincent's EastBirmingham · 19.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careQuality of Life Health ServicesOneonta · 11.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
11.8 mi
Quality of Life Health Services
4 sites · nearest in Oneonta
Blount County Quality Health CareOneonta · 11.8 mi
Blount County Quality Health CareOneonta · 11.8 mi
Cullman Quality Health CareCullman · 21.9 mi
W. T. Scruggs Medical CenterWalnut Grove · 23.7 mi
16.3 mi
Christ Health Center
4 sites · nearest in Center Point
Chc - ChalkvilleCenter Point · 16.3 mi
Chc - RoebuckBirmingham · 16.7 mi
Christ Health Center, Inc. - Live OaksBirmingham · 23.8 mi
Christ Health Center for Servant Leadership - WoodlawnBirmingham · 23.8 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careLocust Fork's county is a federal shortage area.Blount County · need score 11 of 25
! Dental careLocust Fork's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Blount County · need score 16 of 25
✓ Mental healthLocust Fork is not a shortage area
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 Locust Fork. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Locust Fork
| Measure | Locust Fork | Margin | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 43.3% | 38.9–47.8% | 43.3% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 43.2% | 38.7–47.9% | 40.7% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37.4% | 29.6–45.7% | 39.4% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 33.9% | 30.3–37.7% | 30.3% | about the same |
| Depression | 26.1% | 22.4–30.4% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 17.8% | 14.5–21.5% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.4% | 9.2–11.9% | 10% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.4% | 8.5–10.4% | 8.2% | worse |
| Diabetes | 14.7% | 12.7–16.8% | 14.8% | about the same |
| COPD | 10.6% | 9.2–12.1% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.6% | 7.7–9.7% | 7.3% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.5% | 4–4.9% | 4.1% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.5% | 16.6–22.6% | 15.1% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.2% | 11.6–17.2% | 14.1% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 31.1% | 26–36.4% | 28.7% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.1% | 30.5–44.1% | 39.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.6% | 76.1–83% | 80.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 53.8% | 49.7–57.9% | 56.9% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 84.4% | 82.3–86.5% | 85.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 65.1% | 59.8–70.2% | 67% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 71.9% | 63.7–79.3% | 77.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.8% | 75.9–81.5% | 78% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 8.6–12.6% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 34.8% | 29.6–40.4% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24% | 20.3–28% | 24.8% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.7% | 16.5–21.1% | 17.2% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 25.6% | 22.3–29.3% | 22.8% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 16.9% | 14.8–19.2% | 14.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 18.2% | 15.2–21.4% | 19.2% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 12.3% | 10.4–14.4% | 13.9% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.4% | 7.2–9.7% | 9.6% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 9.3% | 8–10.6% | 9.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 13.6% | 11.3–16.2% | 14% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.3% | 35.4–45.3% | 36.5% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 19.2% | 16.6–22% | 17.1% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.5% | 16.3–21% | 16.1% | |
| Hearing | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5% | 8.2% | |
| Vision | 6.4% | 5.6–7.1% | 6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8% | 4.6% | |
| Errands alone | 11.2% | 9.9–12.7% | 9.8% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Locust Fork door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Alabama figure falls inside it, we don't call Locust Fork better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Locust Fork directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Alabama figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.