Photo: Jguy10218 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Highlands Ranch as a whole is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Highlands Ranch differs from Colorado on 15 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Highlands Ranch. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch has a five-star hospital
Uchealth Highlands Ranch Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Highlands Ranch keeps up with checkups
It beats Colorado on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (75.3% vs 71.4%) and dentist visits (76.1% vs 64.6%). Checkups ↓
Highlands Ranch is an active town
Only 13.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 17.7% across Colorado. The town has 39 miles of trails across 50 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch runs below Colorado on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.8% vs 5.3%), diabetes (6.7% vs 8.6%) and heart disease (4.1% vs 5.1%). 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 Highlands Ranch’s likely range.
What’s behind Highlands Ranch’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Highlands Ranch is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #13 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 90%.
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). Highlands Ranch’s median household income is $159,307; among the 2,210 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($119K–$199K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
At 102,257 residents, Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch
1 hospital in Highlands Ranch, 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 Highlands Ranch; ≈ 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 Highlands Ranch adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
39 miles of trails across 50 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Highlands Ranch adults…
Highlands Ranch runs below CO on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
How Highlands Ranch adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Highlands Ranch 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.
Highlands Ranch and the towns around it
Highlands Ranch’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands Ranch | A+ | 24.8% | 6.7% | 7.4% | CDC place |
| Littleton | A+ | 24.3% | 7.7% | 9% | CDC place |
| Lone Tree | A+ | 24% | 6.7% | 6.7% | CDC place |
| Acres Green | A | 28.5% | 8.2% | 10.5% | CDC place |
| Centennial | A+ | 23.1% | 7.3% | 8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Highlands Ranch adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Highlands Ranch
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Highlands Ranch is better than Colorado on 14 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Highlands Ranch’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Highlands Ranch | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.6%9.2–12 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.4%8.3–10.6 | 11.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.2–15.4 | 16% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.8%20.6–29 | 26.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.7%5.7–7.6 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.6%22.7–28.4 | 27% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.7%28.4–34.9 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.5%20.1–25 | 22.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.9–9.5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%2–2.4 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5%4–6.2 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.4%6.3–8.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 13.1%10.9–15.3 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%15.6–21 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.9%23.3–30.7 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.7–6.3 | 11.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.3%72–78.2 | 71.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.1%73.6–78.6 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.9–90.4 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.5%66.6–73.8 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%61.5–69.3 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.5%70.4–82 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%18.2–23.8 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.5%17.8–23.1 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.6%6.6–8.6 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.2%9–11.3 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.7%2.4–2.9 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2%1.9–2.2 | 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 Highlands Ranch
Is Highlands Ranch a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Highlands Ranch is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #13 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 Highlands Ranch?
CDC estimates 24.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.6% and 29%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Highlands Ranch?
Uchealth Highlands Ranch Hospital in Highlands Ranch, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Highlands Ranch’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Highlands Ranch have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–6.3%), 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 Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch.
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.