Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Smyrna is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns
Smyrna differs from Delaware on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Smyrna. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Smyrna
Mental distress runs high in Smyrna
1 in 6 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.1%), vs 15.4% across Delaware. Loneliness is above the state too: 36%, vs 31.7% across Delaware. Mind & connection ↓
Obesity and asthma run high in Smyrna
43.6% of adults have obesity, vs 35.3% across Delaware. 1 in 8 adults have asthma (12.8%), vs 10.8% across Delaware. Conditions ↓
Heart disease and cancer are less common in Smyrna
Smyrna runs below Delaware on heart disease (5.5% vs 6.9%) and cancer (7.4% vs 9.1%). 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 Smyrna’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Smyrna’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Smyrna is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns, #26 of 37 in Delaware. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 66% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Smyrna’s median household income is $67,048; among the 10,219 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 48%, about where its income would put it.
Where Smyrna compares well: coronary heart disease, 5.5% (U.S. 6.4%).
How Smyrna adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Smyrna runs above Delaware.
4 in 10 Smyrna 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 Smyrna adults…
Smyrna runs below DE on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Smyrna
No hospital or community health center in Smyrna 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 Smyrna; ≈ 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.
0.7 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Smyrna 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.
13.6% of Smyrna adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
Smyrna and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Smyrna adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Smyrna
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Smyrna is better than Delaware on 3 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Delaware figure falls inside Smyrna’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Smyrna | DE | U.S. | vs DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.5%17.4–21.9 | 18.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%12.2–15.2 | 13.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.2–20.2 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.6%37.2–50.1 | 35.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 13.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%33.9–41 | 38.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.1%33.5–40.9 | 41.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.9%24.2–29.8 | 28.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.8%11.4–14.4 | 10.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 6.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.8%10.6–15.3 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.1%11.4–15.1 | 12.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30%26–34.4 | 27.2% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11.3–16 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42%36.6–47.5 | 35.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.6–10.5 | 9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%78.7–84.7 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.7%57.8–65.3 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85–88.6 | 87.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%73.4–78.8 | 78.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%61–69.7 | 67.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.5%69–81.1 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.5%19.4–26 | 21.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36%32.3–40.2 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%21.3–27.6 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%13.7–17.7 | 13.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.6%12.8–16.6 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.8%7.7–10.1 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.6%11.7–15.8 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%29.2–36.5 | 30.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.7%13.1–16.5 | 14.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.8–16.2 | 13% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%5–6.3 | 6.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–4 | 3.7% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Smyrna
Is Smyrna a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Smyrna is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #26 of 37 in Delaware. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 48%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Smyrna?
CDC estimates 43.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.2% and 50.1%, against 35.3% across Delaware and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Smyrna?
Bayhealth Medical Center, Kent Campus in Dover, 11.0 miles in a straight line from Smyrna’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Smyrna have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–10.5%), 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 Smyrna more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Smyrna.
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.