How healthy is Needham?
Needham differs from Alabama on 16 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults facing housing insecurity (10.6% vs 13.9%) and fewer adults facing a utility shut-off (7.6% vs 9.6%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (28.2% vs 15.4%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Needham. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Needham
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
Care in and near Needham
No hospital or community health center in Needham 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 Needham; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Needham adults…
Needham runs above AL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Needham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Needham adults are doing
About the same as Alabama on each measure.
1 in 3 Needham 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.
13.7% of Needham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Needham adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Not graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 79 people are less certain, so we show Needham's figures without a grade.
All 40 CDC measures for Needham
| Measure | Needham | Likely range | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 51.1% | 46.7–55.7% | 43.3% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 48% | 43.3–52.9% | 40.7% | worse |
| Obesity | 37.7% | 29.8–46.3% | 39.4% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 41% | 37–45.2% | 30.3% | worse |
| Depression | 25% | 21.3–29.1% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 28.2% | 23.2–33.1% | 15.4% | worse |
| Asthma | 9.9% | 8.6–11.3% | 10% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 12.5% | 11.1–14% | 8.2% | worse |
| Diabetes | 18% | 15.3–20.8% | 14.8% | worse |
| COPD | 13.3% | 10.7–16% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 13.3% | 11.3–15.4% | 7.3% | worse |
| Stroke | 6.3% | 5.3–7.5% | 4.1% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1% | 14.5–22.2% | 15.1% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 12% | 9.7–14.5% | 14.1% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 35.6% | 29.1–42.3% | 28.7% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1% | 29.3–43.2% | 39.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 81.9% | 78.4–84.9% | 80.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 46.9% | 42.5–50.9% | 56.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 85.4% | 82.7–87.8% | 85.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.5% | 61.2–71.4% | 67% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 73.5% | 65.3–80.7% | 77.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 83.3% | 80.9–85.5% | 78% | better |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 7.6–14.6% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 34.9% | 29.4–40.5% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.1% | 19.8–28.2% | 24.8% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.4% | 15.1–19.9% | 17.2% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 30% | 24.8–35.7% | 22.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.8% | 15.9–21.9% | 14.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 18.2% | 13.9–22.7% | 19.2% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 10.6% | 8.4–12.8% | 13.9% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.6% | 6.2–8.9% | 9.6% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 9.5% | 7.6–11.4% | 9.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 13.7% | 10.1–17.3% | 14% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.2% | 42–54.3% | 36.5% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 25.2% | 21–29.6% | 17.1% | |
| Thinking or memory | 19% | 15.8–22.4% | 16.1% | |
| Hearing | 15.7% | 13.7–17.9% | 8.2% | |
| Vision | 8.1% | 6.6–9.7% | 6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.3% | 5.1–7.7% | 4.6% | |
| Errands alone | 13.2% | 10.8–15.8% | 9.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Needham door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the Alabama figure falls inside it, we don’t call Needham better or worse.
CDC publishes Needham directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Needham.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
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. 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.