Photo: Artsistra · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Portland is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
Portland differs from Connecticut on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 06480. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Portland
Connecticut sets a high bar
Portland is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, but only 67% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Portland adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Connecticut. 1 in 12 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer runs high in Portland
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.8%), vs 8.5% across Connecticut. Conditions ↓
Portland is an active town
Only 19.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.1% across Connecticut. The town has 63 miles of trails across 38 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 Connecticut figure falls outside Portland’s likely range; Portland’s figures come from ZIP code 06480, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Portland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Portland is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, #52 of 154 in Connecticut. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 93% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 84%.
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). Portland’s median household income is $118,929; among the 5,891 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($89K–$149K), it’s healthier than 87%, about where its income would put it.
Most Connecticut towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Portland is healthier than 67% of graded towns, against 92% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.1% of Portland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
63 miles of trails across 38 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Portland adults…
Portland runs above CT on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Portland
No hospital or community health center in Portland 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 Portland; ≈ 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 Portland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
How Portland adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Portland does better than Connecticut.
3 in 10 Portland adults feel lonely. 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.
Portland and the towns around it
Portland’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | A | 28.7% | 8.9% | 9.8% | ZIP 06480 |
| Portland | — | — | — | — | |
| Cromwell | A | 28.4% | 9.2% | 9.4% | ZIP 06416 |
| East Hampton | A | 29.3% | 9.2% | 10.9% | ZIP codes |
| Middletown | A− | 30.7% | 9.5% | 11% | CDC place |
| Glastonbury | A+ | 26.9% | 8.9% | 7.4% | ZIP codes |
Portland: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Portland adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Portland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Portland is better than Connecticut on 11 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Portland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Portland | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13%11.1–15.1 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.1–13.1 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.8–16.3 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.7%24.3–33.3 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.9%7.7–10.2 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.3%29.3–35.4 | 32% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%35.3–41.9 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.8–30.1 | 24.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%9–10.8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.5%4.7–6.4 | 5.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.5–12.6 | 9.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.8%8–11.6 | 10.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.8%16.7–23.1 | 25.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%14.4–19.3 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.3%27.5–35.8 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%4.9–7.6 | 10% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.5%79.9–84.9 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.2%73.8–78.8 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.2%89.9–92.5 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.8%73.9–79.5 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.7%69.2–76.5 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%72.3–83 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%20.2–25.8 | 20.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.7%24.3–31.4 | 33.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%18.1–23.9 | 25.1% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.4%6.9–10.3 | 14.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.1%6.8–9.7 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.7–6.5 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.1%5.6–8.8 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.4%18.6–24.5 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.5%8.1–11.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.8%9.3–12.4 | 12.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.2–4.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.1%5.2–7 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.3 | 3.5% | 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 Connecticut figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Portland
Is Portland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Portland is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health, #52 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 87%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Portland?
CDC estimates 28.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.3% and 33.3%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Portland?
Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, 4.9 miles in a straight line from Portland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Portland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.6%), against 10% across Connecticut.
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 Portland 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 Portland.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Connecticut 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.