Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Wilmington is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Wilmington differs from Delaware on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wilmington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wilmington
Making ends meet is harder in Wilmington
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (27.8%), about twice the Delaware rate. Utility shut-off threats (16% vs 7.4%) and no reliable transportation (14.7% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 27.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Wilmington
53.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across Delaware. Among those 65 and older, 16.5% have lost all their teeth (Delaware 12.7%). Checkups ↓
More Wilmington adults lack emotional support
1 in 4 adults lack social or emotional support (26.3%), vs 21.6% across Delaware. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.4%, vs 15.4% across Delaware. Mind & connection ↓
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 Wilmington’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Wilmington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wilmington is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #35 of 37 in Delaware. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 38% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Wilmington’s median household income is $58,671; among the 8,558 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 25%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Wilmington compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.8% of Wilmington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wilmington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Delaware.
How Wilmington adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Wilmington runs above Delaware.
1 in 3 Wilmington 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 Wilmington adults…
Wilmington runs below DE on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wilmington
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington; ≈ 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.
8.8 miles of trails across 46 parks and preserves
Wilmington and the towns around it
Wilmington’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | C− | 41% | 16% | 16.4% | CDC place |
| Edgemoor | B | 35.8% | 12.4% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Elsmere | C | 37.1% | 13% | 15.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wilmington adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wilmington
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wilmington is better than Delaware on 2 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Delaware figure falls inside Wilmington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wilmington | DE | U.S. | vs DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.4%23–27.8 | 18.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.3–16.4 | 13.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.5–20.3 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%34.8–46.9 | 35.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%14.2–17.7 | 13.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.5%36.9–43.8 | 38.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.2%33.6–40.7 | 41.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.4%23.7–28.9 | 28.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.8–6.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%6–7.3 | 6.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.8%7–8.6 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.5%13.9–19.4 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4%14.4–18.4 | 12.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.5%29.3–37.5 | 27.2% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11.4–15.8 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1%36.1–46.4 | 35.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.7%11.1–14.5 | 9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76.2–82.4 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.8%50.1–57.4 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.7–86.5 | 87.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.1%72.4–77.6 | 78.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.1%58.8–67.3 | 67.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%72.3–83.3 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.2–24.4 | 21.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.9%31.2–38.9 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.3%23.2–29.6 | 21.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.8%25.2–30.3 | 13.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22%19.8–24.4 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16%14.2–17.9 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.7%13.2–16.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.8%24.8–30.6 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3%31.6–38.8 | 30.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%16.5–20.1 | 14.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%15.3–18.9 | 13% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 6.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%7.3–8.6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%10.1–12.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.4–6.4 | 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 Wilmington
Is Wilmington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wilmington is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #35 of 37 in Delaware. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 25%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wilmington?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.8% and 46.9%, against 35.3% across Delaware and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wilmington?
St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Wilmington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wilmington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.1–14.5%), 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 Wilmington more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wilmington.
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.