Photo: Cortlandt Van Dyke Hubbard, Photographer · Public domainWhere Bethel residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Bethel, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bethel. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bethel
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Bethel
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.3%), about twice the Delaware rate. 1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.4%), vs 6.9% across Delaware. Stroke is also above the state: 6.2%, vs 3.7% across Delaware. In all, Bethel runs above Delaware on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Bethel
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21%), vs 12.6% across Delaware. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Bethel
53.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across Delaware. Among those 65 and older, 22.4% have lost all their teeth (Delaware 12.7%). Checkups ↓
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 Delaware figure falls outside Bethel’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Bethel adults…
Bethel runs above DE on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Delaware
Share of adults, with the Delaware figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bethel adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Delaware.
Care in and near Bethel
No hospital or community health center in Bethel 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 Bethel; ≈ 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 Bethel adults are doing
About the same as Delaware on each measure.
3 in 10 Bethel 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18% of Bethel adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
Bethel and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bethel adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Bethel
Why doesn’t Bethel have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Bethel.
What hospital is closest to Bethel?
Tidalhealth Nanticoke in Seaford, 5.0 miles in a straight line from Bethel’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Bethel?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Western Sussex Community Health Center in Seaford, 4.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bethel.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Delaware figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. 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.