Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Center is healthier than 77%
Center differs from Colorado on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Center. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Center
More Center adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.7%), vs 17.7% across Colorado. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Center
49.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.6% across Colorado. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (Colorado 9.2%). Center’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Diabetes, stroke and heart disease run high in Center
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16%), about twice the Colorado rate. 1 in 26 adults have had a stroke (3.8%), vs 2.7% across Colorado. Heart disease is also above the state: 7%, vs 5.1% across Colorado. In all, Center runs above Colorado on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Center is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Center is healthier than 33%. Against the 4,269 towns with similar household incomes ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 77%. Health Grade ↓
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 Center’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Center’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Center is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 75% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Center’s median household income is $45,750; among the 4,269 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 77%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Center compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Center adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Out of every 100 Center adults…
Center runs below CO on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Center
1 community health center in Center, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Center; ≈ 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).
How Center adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Center does better than Colorado.
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.
Center and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | C | 32.1% | 16% | 12.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Center adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Center
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Center is better than Colorado on 3 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Center’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Center | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.4%24.3–34.9 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%14.4–19.9 | 11.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%13.9–18.8 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.1%24.6–40.5 | 26.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%13.7–18.5 | 8.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32%28–36.3 | 27% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%30.8–39.5 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.2%20.2–26.6 | 22.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%8.8–11.6 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6–8 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6%4.9–7.3 | 5.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.3–4.4 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.7–21.3 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%10–16.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.7%25.8–38 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%11.7–17.4 | 19% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.8%28.4–41.6 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 28.5%22.3–35.1 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.1%65.6–74.3 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.3%45.6–53.1 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%79.3–85.2 | 85.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.4%67.9–74.8 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.3%49.9–60.7 | 62.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.3%59.7–76 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.8%15.6–22.3 | 22.7% | 20.6% | Better |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.7%31.9–43.9 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.2%15–21.7 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%15.3–22.2 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.2–9.4 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.4%8.7–12.4 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.3–12.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5–7.5 | 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 Center
Is Center a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Center is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Center?
CDC estimates 32.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.6% and 40.5%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Center?
Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte, 8.3 miles in a straight line from Center’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Center have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 28.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 22.3–35.1%), 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 Center more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Center.
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.