Photo: Ncpanthers24 at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Middletown is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Middletown differs from Delaware on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Middletown. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Middletown
Against towns with similar incomes, Middletown’s lead shrinks
Middletown is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, but 58% of the 6,767 towns with similar household incomes ($85K–$141K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease and COPD are less common in Middletown
Middletown runs below Delaware on five chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (5.1% vs 6.9%), COPD (5.3% vs 7.1%) and cancer (7.4% vs 9.1%). A young population is part of it: only 15% 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 Middletown’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Middletown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Middletown is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #8 of 37 in Delaware. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 87% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 63%.
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). Middletown’s median household income is $112,831; among the 6,767 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($85K–$141K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Middletown adults…
Middletown runs below DE on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Middletown
No hospital or community health center in Middletown 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 Middletown; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Delaware
Share of adults, with the Delaware figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Middletown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Delaware.
How Middletown adults are doing
About the same as Delaware on each measure.
1 in 3 Middletown 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.
10.7% of Middletown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
Middletown and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown | A− | 33.3% | 11.2% | 10.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Middletown adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Middletown
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Middletown is better than Delaware on 13 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Delaware figure falls inside Middletown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Middletown | DE | U.S. | vs DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16%14.1–18 | 18.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 13.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.8–17.2 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.3%27.7–38.8 | 35.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.8–12.6 | 13.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.5%30.2–36.7 | 38.1% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%33–40.1 | 41.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.9%21.4–26.4 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–11.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 6.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.3%4.6–5.9 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%9.1–13.3 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.9%9.2–12.5 | 12.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 23.6%20.2–27.1 | 27.2% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.3–18.3 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%31.5–41.5 | 35.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.3–8.8 | 9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.9–82.2 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.6%61–68 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%86.4–89.6 | 87.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.3%71.3–77 | 78.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.8%59.5–68 | 67.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.2%73.7–84.1 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.1–24.1 | 21.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32%28.2–35.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.2%19.4–25.3 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.1%11.4–14.9 | 13.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.4–13.6 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 7.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.7%9–12.5 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.6%23.5–29.9 | 30.6% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.1%10.6–13.5 | 14.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.4%10.9–13.9 | 13% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 6.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.2–7.8 | 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 Middletown
Is Middletown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Middletown is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #8 of 37 in Delaware. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Middletown?
CDC estimates 33.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.7% and 38.8%, against 35.3% across Delaware and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Middletown?
Christiana Hospital in Newark, 16.4 miles in a straight line from Middletown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Middletown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–8.8%), 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 Middletown more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Middletown.
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.