Within Kentucky, Elsmere is healthier than 56% of graded towns
Elsmere differs from Kentucky on 6 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elsmere. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elsmere
Elsmere is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Elsmere is healthier than 32%. Against the 9,062 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$76K), it’s healthier than 50%. Health Grade ↓
Elsmere looks healthier next to Kentucky than next to the country
It’s healthier than 56% of the 141 Kentucky towns we grade, but 32% of towns nationwide. Much of Kentucky scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
1 in 13 working-age adults in Elsmere has no health insurance
7.5% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.4% across Kentucky. Checkups ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Elsmere
Elsmere runs below Kentucky on four chronic conditions, most of all cancer (6.9% vs 8.7%), heart disease (6.6% vs 8.2%) and arthritis (26.4% vs 32.2%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Kentucky 17%). 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 Kentucky figure falls outside Elsmere’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Elsmere’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elsmere is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, #62 of 141 in Kentucky. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 51% of U.S. towns); smoking 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). Elsmere’s median household income is $60,503; among the 9,062 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$76K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Where Elsmere compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Elsmere adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Elsmere adults…
Elsmere runs below KY on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Elsmere residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Kentucky. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Elsmere
No hospital or community health center in Elsmere 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 Elsmere; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Elsmere adults are doing
About the same as Kentucky on each measure.
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.
14.3% of Elsmere adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Elsmere and the towns around it
Elsmere’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsmere | C | 37.1% | 12% | 19.8% | CDC place |
| Erlanger | B | 34.8% | 11.9% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Independence | A− | 33.4% | 9.6% | 14.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elsmere adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elsmere
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elsmere is better than Kentucky on 4 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Elsmere’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elsmere | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%19.3–23.9 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13.1–16.4 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.6–20.5 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%30.8–44.1 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12%10.5–13.8 | 13.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.1%31.3–38.8 | 38.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.9%30.9–38.9 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.4%23.4–29.9 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.8 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 10.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.3%15.2–22.1 | 18.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.8%17.6–22.4 | 18.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.1%23.2–31.6 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.2–19.7 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.2%34.2–46.7 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.2–8.9 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.2%72.4–80.1 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.3%53.6–61.1 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.8%79–84.5 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%74.7–80.6 | 81.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.4%60.4–70.6 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.3%66.9–81.4 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%24–31.9 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%19.9–26.5 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.7%14.1–17.5 | 15.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.6%11.2–14.2 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 8.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%8.1–9.8 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.3%12.7–16.1 | 14.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.8%31.8–40.3 | 37.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%13.6–17.1 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.1%16.2–20.1 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.6 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.4–6.4 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.4–10.2 | 9.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 4.4% | 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 Kentucky figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Elsmere
Is Elsmere a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elsmere is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #62 of 141 in Kentucky. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elsmere?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 44.1%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elsmere?
St. Elizabeth Edgewood in Edgewood, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Elsmere’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elsmere have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–8.9%), against 5.4% across Kentucky.
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 Elsmere 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 Elsmere.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kentucky 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.