Charles and Edith Liedlich House · Photo: Choess · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Newark is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns
Newark differs from Delaware on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Newark. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Newark
Mental distress runs high in Newark
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20.8%), vs 15.4% across Delaware. Depression is above the state too: 26.1%, vs 21.1% across Delaware. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Newark
1 in 8 adults lack reliable transportation (12.5%), vs 7.7% across Delaware. Food insecurity (18.9% vs 13.9%) and utility shut-off threats (9.2% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 16.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Newark
Newark runs below Delaware on nine chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.8% vs 13.1%), stroke (2.3% vs 3.7%) and heart disease (4.3% vs 6.9%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Delaware 21%). Conditions ↓
Newark has a top-rated hospital
Christiana Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Newark’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Newark’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, #9 of 37 in Delaware. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Newark’s median household income is $76,912; among the 10,820 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$96K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
How Newark adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Newark runs above Delaware.
4 in 10 Newark 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.
16.8% of Newark adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
Out of every 100 Newark adults…
Newark runs below DE on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Newark 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 Newark
1 hospital in Newark, 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 Newark; ≈ 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.
14 miles of trails across 31 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Newark adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Delaware.
Newark and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Newark adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Newark
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Newark is better than Delaware on 11 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Delaware figure falls inside Newark’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Newark | DE | U.S. | vs DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%15.4–19.5 | 18.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| 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) | 20.8%18.7–23 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.6%24.4–34.7 | 35.3% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 13.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.6%22.9–28.3 | 38.1% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.8%27.8–33.7 | 41.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.8%16–19.7 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.3–6.3 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 6.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.2–2.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11%9.1–13.2 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.5%9–12 | 12.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24.4%20.8–28.1 | 27.2% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.5–19.8 | 14.2% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%29.7–39.5 | 35.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%7.5–10.3 | 9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.9%71.1–78.3 | 80.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.8%56.2–63.3 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 76.6%74–79.1 | 87.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.1%61.8–66.3 | 78.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.5%63.4–71.5 | 67.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%71.3–82.6 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.1%22.7–29.6 | 21.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37%33–41 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22%19–25 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%16.5–21.2 | 13.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%11.5–15 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.2%7.9–10.5 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%11–13.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.8%14.3–19.2 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.7%28.1–35.3 | 30.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10%8.9–11.2 | 14.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.5%16.4–20.6 | 13% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 6.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%9–11.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 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 Newark
Is Newark a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #9 of 37 in Delaware. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Newark?
CDC estimates 29.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.4% and 34.7%, against 35.3% across Delaware and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Newark?
Christiana Hospital in Newark, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Newark’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Newark have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.3%), 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 Newark 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 Newark.
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.