Memphis, AL health
Memphis differs from Alabama on 23 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (5.7% vs 8.2%) and fewer binge drinkers (10.4% vs 14.1%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing a utility shut-off (20% vs 9.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP code 35442 (all of Memphis)Not graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 56 people are less certain, so we show Memphis's figures without a grade.
How Memphis 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Memphis adults…
Bars show Memphis; the black tick is Alabama. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
AL 28.7%
AL 39.1%
AL 14.1%
AL 15.1%
Keeping up with care
Share of Memphis adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Memphis adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
33.3% of Memphis adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Living with a disability
of Memphis adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: Alabama. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Memphis
No hospital or community health center in Memphis 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 Memphis. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Memphis
| Measure | Memphis | Margin | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 49% | 44.9–53.5% | 43.3% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 40.2% | 36–44.8% | 40.7% | about the same |
| Obesity | 53.1% | 44.9–61.8% | 39.4% | worse |
| Arthritis | 31.9% | 28.6–35.5% | 30.3% | about the same |
| Depression | 23.3% | 19.9–27.1% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 27.5% | 23.6–31.7% | 15.4% | worse |
| Asthma | 12.2% | 10.8–13.8% | 10% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 5.7% | 5.2–6.3% | 8.2% | better |
| Diabetes | 20% | 17.8–22.4% | 14.8% | worse |
| COPD | 9.9% | 8.9–11% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.7% | 7–8.5% | 7.3% | about the same |
| Stroke | 5.6% | 5.2–6% | 4.1% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.3% | 17.8–23.3% | 15.1% | worse |
| Binge drink | 10.4% | 8.4–12.9% | 14.1% | better |
| Get no exercise | 40% | 35–45.6% | 28.7% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.4% | 39.8–53.2% | 39.1% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82.6% | 79.5–85.6% | 80.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 43% | 39.3–46.8% | 56.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 85.1% | 83–87.1% | 85.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 61.7% | 56.9–66.6% | 67% | worse |
| Mammogram | 75.5% | 68.5–81.8% | 77.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.4% | 76.9–81.8% | 78% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 15.9% | 13.4–18.8% | 9.9% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 39.3% | 34–44.7% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 30.3% | 26.4–34.6% | 24.8% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 20.5% | 18.3–22.9% | 17.2% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 33.1% | 29.9–36.9% | 22.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.5% | 15.7–19.7% | 14.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 37.9% | 34–42.2% | 19.2% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 27.5% | 24.4–31.1% | 13.9% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 20% | 17.7–22.6% | 9.6% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 17.8% | 15.9–20% | 9.8% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 33.3% | 29.7–37.3% | 14% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.4% | 39–48.4% | 36.5% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 23.4% | 21–26.1% | 17.1% | |
| Thinking or memory | 20.8% | 18.6–23.2% | 16.1% | |
| Hearing | 7.2% | 6.5–8.1% | 8.2% | |
| Vision | 10.2% | 9.4–11.1% | 6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 7.7% | 7.1–8.4% | 4.6% | |
| Errands alone | 14.4% | 13.1–16% | 9.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.