Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Federal Heights is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns
Federal Heights differs from Colorado on 20 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Federal Heights. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Federal Heights
More Federal Heights adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32%), vs 17.7% across Colorado. Habits ↓
Every town around Federal Heights scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of Federal Heights’ C−, from Sherrelwood (B) to Westminster (A). Around town ↓
Dental care lags in Federal Heights
49.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.6% across Colorado. Among those 65 and older, 21.6% have lost all their teeth (Colorado 9.2%). Checkups ↓
More Federal Heights adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (38.3%, vs 27.1% across Colorado). The biggest difference is vision loss: 8.8% vs 4.2%. Disability ↓
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 Federal Heights’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Federal Heights’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Federal Heights is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 41% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Federal Heights’ median household income is $56,597; among the 7,898 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Most Colorado towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Federal Heights is healthier than 1% of graded towns, against 17% nationally.
Where Federal Heights compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
5.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Federal Heights and the towns around it
Federal Heights’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Heights | C− | 37.3% | 12.8% | 18% | CDC place |
| Thornton | A− | 31.8% | 8.8% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Westminster | A | 27.7% | 8.4% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| Sherrelwood | B | 34.3% | 10.7% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Keeping up with care
Share of Federal Heights adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Federal Heights adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Out of every 100 Federal Heights adults…
Federal Heights runs below CO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Federal Heights residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Colorado. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Federal Heights
No hospital or community health center in Federal Heights itself. These are the nearest.
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 Federal Heights; ≈ 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 Federal Heights adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Federal Heights runs above 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.
Every CDC estimate for Federal Heights
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Federal Heights is better than Colorado on 2 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Federal Heights’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Federal Heights | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.1%25.4–31.4 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.8–18.4 | 11.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.7–21.7 | 16% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.3%33.1–42.1 | 26.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11.3–14.5 | 8.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 30.3%27.7–33.2 | 27% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.5%29.7–35.6 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.8%19.7–24 | 22.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.4–13 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.4%6.6–8.4 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.3–3.9 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.6%17.9–25.4 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18%15.9–20.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32%28.5–36.2 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%13.1–17.6 | 19% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.6%31.7–39.6 | 30.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 27.7%24.6–31 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.5%65.2–71.9 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.5%46.3–52.7 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.8%76.5–81.2 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67.2%64.3–70.2 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 52.2%48–56.4 | 62.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 62.8%55.6–69.5 | 71.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%19–24.3 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.3%34.8–42.2 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.5–18.3 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%19–23.5 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.9–8.6 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.8%8–9.7 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.1%10–12.4 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%4.9–6 | 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 Federal Heights
Is Federal Heights a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Federal Heights is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Federal Heights?
CDC estimates 37.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.1% and 42.1%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Federal Heights?
HCA Healthone Mountain Ridge in Thornton, 1.6 miles in a straight line from Federal Heights’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Federal Heights have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 27.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 24.6–31%), 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 Federal Heights more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Federal Heights.
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.