Photo: Mountain Mike Johans… · CC BY 3.0Within Colorado, Aurora is healthier than 31% of graded towns
Aurora differs from Colorado on 10 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Aurora. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Aurora
Colorado sets a high bar
Aurora is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, but only 31% of the 159 Colorado towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
More Aurora adults get no exercise
1 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (21.8%), vs 17.7% across Colorado. There are 118 miles of trails across 145 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Aurora
59.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.6% across Colorado. Among those 65 and older, 11.6% have lost all their teeth (Colorado 9.2%). Checkups ↓
1 in 6 working-age adults in Aurora has no health insurance
16.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.1% across Colorado. Checkups ↓
Aurora has four hospitals within its borders
4 hospitals and 3 community health centers are inside Aurora. University of Colorado Hospital Authority is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Colorado figure falls outside Aurora’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Aurora’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Aurora is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #110 of 159 in Colorado. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 86% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 40%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Aurora’s median household income is $88,368; among the 10,138 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($66K–$110K), it’s healthier than 74%, about where its income would put it.
At 410,053 residents, Aurora is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Aurora
4 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Aurora.
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 Aurora; ≈ 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 Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
118 miles of trails across 145 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Aurora adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Out of every 100 Aurora adults…
Aurora runs below CO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Aurora residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Colorado. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
How Aurora adults are doing
About the same as Colorado on each measure.
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.
Aurora and the towns around it
Aurora’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | B+ | 29.1% | 9.5% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Centennial | A+ | 23.1% | 7.3% | 8% | CDC place |
| Denver | A | 21.6% | 7.1% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Watkins | — | — | — | — | |
| Parker | A+ | 25.9% | 6.1% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| Foxfield | — | — | — | — | |
| Four Square Mile | A− | 28.6% | 8% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Aetna Estates | B+ | 29.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% | CDC place |
Watkins and Foxfield: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Aurora adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Aurora
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Aurora is better than Colorado on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Aurora’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Aurora | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19%17.3–20.8 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.7–14.1 | 11.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%16–19.2 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.1%25.8–32.6 | 26.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 28.3%26.1–30.7 | 27% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.7%27.3–32.2 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.4%19.6–23.3 | 22.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%10–12.2 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%6–7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.5–5.4 | 5.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.8–3.1 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.6%9.7–13.8 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%11.4–14.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.8%19.4–24.3 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%15.4–19.6 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%31.3–38 | 30.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.1%14.7–17.7 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.1%66.3–71.9 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.2%56.5–61.8 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%81.6–84.7 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.2%66.5–71.8 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%56.3–63.2 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.8%64.2–75 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%19.6–24.2 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.9%26.4–31.5 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.1%10–12.3 | 10.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%14.5–17.3 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5.1–5.9 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%7.2–8.6 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.4–3.9 | 2.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Colorado figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Aurora
Is Aurora a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Aurora is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #110 of 159 in Colorado. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 74%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Aurora?
CDC estimates 29.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.8% and 32.6%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Aurora?
The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital in Aurora, 6.0 miles in a straight line from Aurora’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Aurora have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.7–17.7%), against 11.1% across Colorado.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Aurora more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Aurora.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. 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.