Photo: Yassie · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Golden is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
Golden differs from Colorado on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Golden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Golden
Colorado sets a high bar
Golden is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, but only 65% of the 159 Colorado towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Golden doesn’t win on
22% of adults binge drink, vs 19% across Colorado, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Golden is an active town
Only 12.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 17.7% across Colorado. The town has 29 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Golden’s likely range.
What’s behind Golden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Golden is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, #57 of 159 in Colorado. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 55%.
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). Golden’s median household income is $98,582; among the 8,779 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$123K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Most Colorado towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Golden is healthier than 65% of graded towns, against 93% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
29 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Golden adults…
Golden runs below CO on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Golden
No hospital or community health center in Golden 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 Golden; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Golden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
How Golden 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.
Golden and the towns around it
Golden’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden | A | 22.3% | 7% | 9.9% | CDC place |
| West Pleasant View | A | 24.6% | 7.8% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Fairmount | A+ | 21.7% | 8.2% | 8.4% | CDC place |
| Lakewood | A | 23.8% | 8.7% | 10.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Golden adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Golden
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Golden is better than Colorado on 11 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Golden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Golden | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.2%11.6–15 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 11.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.9–18.7 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.3%19.1–25.7 | 26.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7%6.1–8 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24.3%22–26.6 | 27% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.8%27.3–32.4 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.2%19.3–23.2 | 22.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.3–12.8 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.4–7.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.4%4–4.9 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%4.2–5.3 | 5.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.5 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.6%6.9–10.5 | 9.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.9%8.5–11.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 12.6%10.7–14.7 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22%19.3–24.8 | 19% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30%26.5–33.7 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.9–9.5 | 11.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.3%67.2–73.3 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.2%63.3–69 | 64.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.2%80.1–84.1 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.4%62.3–68.1 | 69.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.8%64.2–71.3 | 62.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%65.6–77.4 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%22.1–27.6 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.3%22.4–28.2 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.3%7.2–9.4 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%12.8–16.3 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.3–4 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.3–2.8 | 2.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Golden
Is Golden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Golden is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A for health, #57 of 159 in Colorado. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Golden?
CDC estimates 22.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.1% and 25.7%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Golden?
Centura Health-St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Golden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Golden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–9.5%), 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 Golden 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 Golden.
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.