Mill Creek Friends Meetinghouse · Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey Earl Brooks, Photographer · Public domainOn CDC estimates, North Star is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns
North Star differs from Delaware on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 24 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for North Star. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Star
North Star is the healthiest town in Delaware we grade
Out of 37 Delaware towns with a Health Grade, North Star comes first on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 97% of towns. Health Grade ↓
North Star is an active town
Only 17.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 27.2% across Delaware. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in North Star
North Star runs below Delaware on six chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.6% vs 7.1%), stroke (2.7% vs 3.7%) and obesity (26.1% vs 35.3%). Conditions ↓
Few North Star adults smoke
6.9% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 12.6% 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 North Star’s likely range.
What’s behind North Star’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Star is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, #1 of 37 in Delaware. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 98% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 81%.
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). North Star’s median household income is $150,733; among the 2,695 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($113K–$188K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Delaware
Share of adults, with the Delaware figure marked.
9.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 North Star adults…
North Star runs below DE on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near North Star
No hospital or community health center in North Star 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 North Star; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of North Star adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Delaware.
How North Star adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, North Star does better than Delaware.
1 in 4 North Star 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.
3.5% of North Star adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
North Star and the towns around it
North Star has the best Health Grade of the 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Star | A+ | 26.1% | 10% | 6.9% | CDC place |
| Hockessin | A+ | 25.6% | 10.5% | 7% | CDC place |
| Pike Creek | A | 27.8% | 10.1% | 8.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Star adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Star
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Star is better than Delaware on 24 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Delaware figure falls inside North Star’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Star | DE | U.S. | vs DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.3%9.7–13.2 | 18.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.8%8.6–11.3 | 13.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.1–13.1 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.1%21.3–31.2 | 35.3% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10%8.7–11.5 | 13.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.3%29.7–36.9 | 38.1% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.2%38.2–46.1 | 41.2% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%24–29.9 | 28.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.1%8.1–10.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.4%10.4–12.5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.1–6.5 | 6.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.6%3.9–5.5 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–3.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.6%3.7–5.7 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.9%5.6–8.6 | 12.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.6%14.7–21 | 27.2% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%13–17.8 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.8%24.4–33.5 | 35.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.9%3.1–5 | 9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%78.7–84.4 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.7%71.7–77.6 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.7%90.4–92.9 | 87.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%75.6–81.5 | 78.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.4%67.5–75.1 | 67.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.6%75–85.3 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.6%16.7–22.6 | 21.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 26.8%23.3–30.4 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 16.7%14.2–19.5 | 21.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.3%4.3–6.5 | 13.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 4.8%3.9–5.8 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.1%2.6–3.7 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 3.6%3.1–4.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.5%2.7–4.5 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.3%19.2–25.6 | 30.6% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10%8.5–11.7 | 14.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 8.5%7.3–10 | 13% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 6.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.7%2.4–3.1 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.7%4.1–5.6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.1%1.9–2.5 | 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 North Star
Is North Star a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Star is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #1 of 37 in Delaware. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Star?
CDC estimates 26.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.3% and 31.2%, against 35.3% across Delaware and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Star?
Christiana Hospital in Newark, 5.3 miles in a straight line from North Star’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Star have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.1–5%), 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 North Star more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in North Star.
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.