Cherokee County Health Data

Cherokee County, Alabama

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

30/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

72.4 yr

Uninsured Rate

13.3%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

72.4 yr

State avg 72.1 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

13.3%

State avg 11.1%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

44

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

66

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

19.5%

State avg 23.9%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

11.9

per 100K residentsCDC: 44.0 per 100K

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

7.9

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Cherokee County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureCherokeeState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity39.3%41.9%37.6%2.6 pts better than state
Diabetes11.8%13.9%11.2%2.1 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure37.5%41.7%33.5%4.2 pts better than state
Depression27.1%24.7%24.1%2.4 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureCherokeeState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking18.1%18.0%16.3%near state average
Binge Drinking16.5%14.8%17.8%1.7 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity28.8%30.8%27.0%2.0 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureCherokeeState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup76.3%78.7%74.9%2.4 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)56.7%52.5%57.3%4.2 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)74.3%75.2%73.3%0.9 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureCherokeeState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress19.8%19.4%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration37.4%41.8%37.3%4.4 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Cherokee County nationally on short sleep duration.

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Cherokee County Uninsured Rate Higher Than State and National Averages

Health data brief for Cherokee County, Alabama.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Uninsured rate

Cherokee County’s uninsured rate stands at 13.3%, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 11.1% and the national average of 10%. Regarding health access, there are 44 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, compared to the national median of 70 per 100,000. Mental health professional availability follows a similar pattern, with 66 providers per 100,000 residents against a national median of 250. The county’s life expectancy is 72.4 years, which is marginally higher than the Alabama state average of 72.1 years but lower than the national average of 77 years. Furthermore, 19.5% of residents report their health as poor or fair, exceeding the national average of 17%. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Cherokee County, Alabama

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Floyd Cherokee Medical Center

ER
Not rated by CMS
(256) 927-5531
400 Northwood Dr, Centre, AL 35960
Acute Care HospitalsProprietary

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Cherokee County, AL?
Cherokee County has a health score of 30/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #17 out of 67 counties in Alabama (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Cherokee County?
Life expectancy in Cherokee County is 72.4 years. The Alabama state average is 72.1 years, making Cherokee County above the state average.
How does Cherokee County health compare to the Alabama average?
Cherokee County's health score of 30/100 is above the Alabama average of 28/100. Life expectancy is 72.4 years vs. the state average of 72.1 years. The uninsured rate is 13.3% vs. 11.1% statewide.
What health factors affect Cherokee County?
Key health factors for Cherokee County include: life expectancy (72.4 years), uninsured rate (13.3%), and primary care physician access (44:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 66:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Cherokee County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 30/100 ("Below Average"), Cherokee County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Alabama. Residents have a life expectancy of 72.4 years. 13.3% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Cherokee County healthier than the Alabama average?
Cherokee County's health score of 30/100 exceeds the Alabama average of 28/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors.

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.