Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Clayton is healthier than 21%
Clayton differs from Delaware on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clayton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clayton
Mental distress runs high in Clayton
1 in 6 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.1%), vs 15.4% across Delaware. Loneliness is above the state too: 35.6%, vs 31.7% across Delaware. Mind & connection ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Clayton’s lead shrinks
Clayton is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, but 21% of the 7,573 towns with similar household incomes ($80K–$134K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Obesity and asthma run high in Clayton
43.1% of adults have obesity, vs 35.3% across Delaware. 1 in 8 adults have asthma (12.6%), vs 10.8% across Delaware. Conditions ↓
Heart disease and cancer are less common in Clayton
Clayton runs below Delaware on five chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.4% vs 6.9%), cancer (6.3% vs 9.1%) and stroke (2.8% vs 3.7%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Delaware 21%). 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 Delaware figure falls outside Clayton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Clayton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clayton is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, #21 of 37 in Delaware. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 75% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Clayton’s median household income is $107,307; among the 7,573 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($80K–$134K), it’s healthier than 21%, less than its income alone would suggest.
How Clayton adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Clayton runs above Delaware.
1 in 3 Clayton 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.
Out of every 100 Clayton adults…
Clayton runs below DE on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Clayton residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Delaware. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Clayton
No hospital or community health center in Clayton 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 Clayton; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Delaware
Share of adults, with the Delaware figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Clayton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Delaware.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.4% of Clayton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
Clayton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clayton adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clayton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clayton is better than Delaware on 8 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Delaware figure falls inside Clayton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clayton | DE | U.S. | vs DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.5%15.1–19.9 | 18.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.5%11–14.1 | 13.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16–20.3 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.1%36.8–49.7 | 35.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 13.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.2%30.8–37.8 | 38.1% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.1%31.5–39 | 41.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.1%21.4–26.8 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.1–14.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.7–7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 6.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.3%10.1–14.9 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%10.8–15.1 | 12.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.4%23.2–31.8 | 27.2% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.7–17.8 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.2%36.7–47.7 | 35.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%6.9–10.1 | 9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77.3–83.6 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.5%59.6–67.1 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.6%84.7–88.3 | 87.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.5%70.4–76.5 | 78.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.6%59.2–67.8 | 67.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%70.4–82 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%19.7–26.4 | 21.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.6%31.8–39.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20.8–27.2 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%11.6–15.9 | 13.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.4%11.6–15.6 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.9–9.3 | 7.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.7–8.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.4%9.5–13.8 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6%25.8–33.5 | 30.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.4%10.8–14 | 14.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12–15.8 | 13% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.6%4–5.2 | 6.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.7–4.6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.5–8.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.5 | 3.7% | 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 Delaware figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Clayton
Is Clayton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clayton is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #21 of 37 in Delaware. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clayton?
CDC estimates 43.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.8% and 49.7%, against 35.3% across Delaware and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clayton?
Bayhealth Medical Center, Kent Campus in Dover, 10.3 miles in a straight line from Clayton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clayton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–10.1%), against 9% across Delaware.
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 Clayton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clayton.
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. 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.