Etowah County Health Data

Etowah County, Alabama

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

24/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

70.2 yr

Uninsured Rate

11.3%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

70.2 yr

State avg 72.1 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

11.3%

State avg 11.1%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

74

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

154

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

22.2%

State avg 23.9%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

16.5

per 100K residentsCDC: 73.7 per 100K

Dentists

1.9

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

15.5

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 Etowah County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureEtowahState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity43.6%41.9%37.6%1.7 pts worse than state
Diabetes13.4%13.9%11.2%near state average
High Blood Pressure40.9%41.7%33.5%0.8 pts better than state
Depression26.1%24.7%24.1%1.4 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureEtowahState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking18.1%18.0%16.3%near state average
Binge Drinking15.6%14.8%17.8%0.8 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity31.7%30.8%27.0%0.9 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureEtowahState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup77.7%78.7%74.9%1.0 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)54.1%52.5%57.3%1.6 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)74.3%75.2%73.3%0.9 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureEtowahState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress19.6%19.4%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration46.2%41.8%37.3%4.4 pts worse than state

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

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

Data Story

Etowah County Reports Life Expectancy Near Seventy Years

Health data brief for Etowah County, Alabama.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Life expectancy

Residents in Etowah County have a life expectancy of 70.2 years, which is lower than the Alabama state average of 72.1 years and the national average of 77 years. While the county’s primary care provider ratio of 74 per 100,000 residents is slightly higher than the national median of 70, other clinical metrics show gaps. For instance, there are 154 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, compared to a national median of 250. Data from the CDC County Health Rankings indicates that 22.2% of the population reports poor or fair health, which is higher than the national average of 17%. The uninsured rate stands at 11.3%, slightly higher than the state average of 11.1% and the national average of 10%. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Etowah 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.

Riverview Regional Medical Center

ER
3/5
(256) 543-5200
600 South Third Street, Gadsden, AL 35901
Acute Care HospitalsProprietary

Gadsden Regional Medical Center

ER
2/5
(256) 494-4000
1007 Goodyear Avenue, Gadsden, AL 35903
Acute Care HospitalsProprietary

Mountain View Hospital

Not rated by CMS
(256) 546-9265
3201 Scenic Highway, Gadsden, AL 35902
PsychiatricProprietary

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 Etowah County, AL?
Etowah County has a health score of 24/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #37 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 Etowah County?
Life expectancy in Etowah County is 70.2 years. The Alabama state average is 72.1 years, making Etowah County below the state average.
How does Etowah County health compare to the Alabama average?
Etowah County's health score of 24/100 is below the Alabama average of 28/100. Life expectancy is 70.2 years vs. the state average of 72.1 years. The uninsured rate is 11.3% vs. 11.1% statewide.
What health factors affect Etowah County?
Key health factors for Etowah County include: life expectancy (70.2 years), uninsured rate (11.3%), and primary care physician access (74:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 154:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Etowah County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 24/100 ("Below Average"), Etowah County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Alabama. Residents have a life expectancy of 70.2 years. 11.3% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in Etowah County?
Etowah County's health score of 24/100 is below the Alabama average of 28/100. The uninsured rate of 11.3% means a significant portion of residents may face barriers to healthcare. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

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.