Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Denver as a whole is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Denver differs from Colorado on 13 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Denver. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Denver
Binge drinking is the habit Denver doesn’t win on
25.9% of adults binge drink, vs 19% across Colorado. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Denver has six hospitals within its borders
6 hospitals and 7 community health centers are inside Denver. Saint Joseph Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Colorado sets a high bar
Denver is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, but only 67% of the 159 Colorado towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and COPD are less common in Denver
Denver runs below Colorado on seven chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.8% vs 7.8%), COPD (4.1% vs 5.3%) and arthritis (17.8% vs 22.9%). Conditions ↓
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 Denver’s likely range.
What’s behind Denver’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Denver is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #53 of 159 in Colorado. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 75%.
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). Denver’s median household income is $94,718; among the 9,349 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($71K–$118K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
Most Colorado towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Denver is healthier than 67% of graded towns, against 94% nationally.
At 740,613 residents, Denver is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
181 miles of trails across 245 parks and preserves
Care in and near Denver
6 hospitals and 7 community health centers in Denver, 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 Denver; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Denver adults…
Denver runs below CO on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Denver residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Colorado. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Denver adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
How Denver 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.
Denver and the towns around it
Denver’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | A | 21.6% | 7.1% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Lakewood | A | 23.8% | 8.7% | 10.7% | CDC place |
| Aurora | B+ | 29.1% | 9.5% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Four Square Mile | A− | 28.6% | 8% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Englewood | A | 25.8% | 7.4% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Bow Mar | — | — | — | — | |
| North Washington | — | — | — | — | |
| Commerce City | B | 34.6% | 9.7% | 14.4% | CDC place |
Bow Mar: not graded. North Washington: 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 Denver adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Denver
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Denver is better than Colorado on 9 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Denver’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Denver | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.7%13.2–16.2 | 15.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.9%9.8–12 | 11.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%14–17 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.6%18.6–24.7 | 26.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.1%6.3–8 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 21.2%19.2–23.3 | 27% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27.7%25.3–30.3 | 31.5% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.8%16.1–19.6 | 22.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.3–11.6 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4%3.6–4.4 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.4 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.5%7.7–11.3 | 9.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.2%9–11.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.3%15.3–19.5 | 17.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 25.9%23.3–28.7 | 19% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.6%25.4–31.7 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.3%12–14.8 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.2%66.2–72 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.2%62.4–67.7 | 64.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.4%81.8–85 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.8%61.8–67.7 | 69.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.9%58.1–65.4 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.5%66.3–77.7 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%20.5–25.5 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.2%22.8–27.7 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9%8–10 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12.5–15.2 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 4.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.6–3 | 2.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Denver
Is Denver a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Denver is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #53 of 159 in Colorado. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Denver?
CDC estimates 21.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.6% and 24.7%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Denver?
University of Colorado Hospital Authority in Aurora, 2.5 miles in a straight line from Denver’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Denver have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12–14.8%), 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 Denver more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Denver.
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.