Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Milford is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns
Milford trails Delaware on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Milford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Milford
Making ends meet is harder in Milford
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.8%), vs 13.9% across Delaware. Utility shut-off threats (10.2% vs 7.4%) and no reliable transportation (10.1% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 18.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Milford
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 7.1% across Delaware. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.5%), vs 3.7% across Delaware. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.1%, vs 6.9% across Delaware. In all, Milford runs above Delaware on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Milford adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.3%), vs 27.2% across Delaware. 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 Delaware figure falls outside Milford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Milford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milford is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns, #31 of 37 in Delaware. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 55% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Milford’s median household income is $59,464; among the 8,767 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$74K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.5% of Milford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
Out of every 100 Milford adults…
Milford runs above DE on 6 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.
2.4 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Care in and near Milford
1 community health center in Milford, 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 Milford; ≈ 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 Milford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Delaware.
How Milford adults are doing
About the same as Delaware on each measure.
1 in 3 Milford 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.
Milford and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milford | C− | 39.9% | 15.1% | 16% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Milford adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Milford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Milford is better than Delaware on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Delaware figure falls inside Milford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Milford | DE | U.S. | vs DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%21.4–26.5 | 18.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.3–17.5 | 13.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15.2–18.6 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.9%34.6–45.2 | 35.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.6–16.8 | 13.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.8%38.6–45 | 38.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.5%40.1–46.9 | 41.2% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.2%28.6–33.9 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.7–13.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.5–9.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.3–8.9 | 6.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%8–10.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%11.7–15.8 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%13.9–18.3 | 12.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.3%29.3–37.3 | 27.2% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.6%10.8–14.4 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%32.6–41.2 | 35.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13%11.2–14.9 | 9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%79.4–84.5 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.4%55–61.5 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.7–87.9 | 87.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.8–82 | 78.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67%63.4–70.3 | 67.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%73–82.1 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%19.1–24.8 | 21.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33%29.8–36.4 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%19.8–25 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.8%17.7–22.1 | 13.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.2%13.6–17 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.2%9.1–11.4 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%9–11.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.5%16.2–20.9 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.8%32.2–39.4 | 30.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.2%16.2–20.2 | 14.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.3%13.6–17.1 | 13% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.2–8.9 | 6.7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.1–11.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.5–5.5 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Milford
Is Milford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milford is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #31 of 37 in Delaware. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Milford?
CDC estimates 39.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 45.2%, against 35.3% across Delaware and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Milford?
Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus in Milford, 4.0 miles in a straight line from Milford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Milford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.2–14.9%), 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 Milford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Milford.
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.