Photo: Warren LeMay · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Fort Thomas is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Fort Thomas beats Kentucky on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fort Thomas. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fort Thomas
Fort Thomas is an active town
Only 17.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.9% across Kentucky. The town has 12 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Fort Thomas has a five-star hospital
St. Elizabeth Ft Thomas is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Fort Thomas
Fort Thomas runs below Kentucky on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (6.3% vs 10.2%), stroke (2.7% vs 4%) and diabetes (10.3% vs 13.7%). Conditions ↓
Few Fort Thomas adults smoke
11.2% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 18.5% across Kentucky. Habits ↓
Fort Thomas is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A tops all five graded neighbors. The closest is Highland Heights (A−). Around town ↓
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 Fort Thomas’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Fort Thomas’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Thomas is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, #7 of 141 in Kentucky. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 92% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 71%.
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). Fort Thomas’ median household income is $104,350; among the 7,944 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$130K), it’s healthier than 87%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Fort Thomas
1 hospital in Fort Thomas, 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 Fort Thomas; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Fort Thomas adults…
Fort Thomas runs below KY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Fort Thomas and the towns around it
Fort Thomas has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Thomas | A | 33.1% | 10.3% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Newport | C− | 39% | 12.8% | 19.3% | CDC place |
| Dayton | C− | 39.2% | 13.2% | 20.2% | CDC place |
| Southgate | B− | 37.2% | 11.5% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Highland Heights | A− | 31.7% | 8.7% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| Bellevue | B | 36.7% | 11.5% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Woodlawn | — | — | — | — |
Woodlawn: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fort Thomas adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Fort Thomas adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Fort Thomas does better than Kentucky.
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.
6.5% of Fort Thomas adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fort Thomas adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fort Thomas
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fort Thomas is better than Kentucky on 20 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Fort Thomas’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fort Thomas | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.7%12.3–15.4 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.8%9.6–12 | 15.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.7–15.6 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.1%27.1–39.4 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.3%8.9–11.7 | 13.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.8%29.8–37.9 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.6%29.3–38 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.9%24.7–31.1 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–10 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.6–6.8 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.7–7 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–2.9 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.5%8.6–12.6 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%9.9–12.7 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.8%15–20.9 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%13.8–19.9 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%28.9–40.3 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4%3.3–4.9 | 5.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.2–83.4 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.6%67.6–73.6 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.1–89.4 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%77.7–83.5 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.8%65.5–74 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.2%72.7–84.8 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.9–27.7 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19%16–22.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.9%6.9–9 | 15.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.5%5.7–7.5 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.7%24.4–31.3 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.4%10.2–12.8 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.2–7.8 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 4.4% | 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 Kentucky figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Fort Thomas
Is Fort Thomas a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Thomas is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health, #7 of 141 in Kentucky. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 87%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fort Thomas?
CDC estimates 33.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.1% and 39.4%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fort Thomas?
St. Elizabeth Ft Thomas in Fort Thomas, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Fort Thomas’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fort Thomas have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.3–4.9%), 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 Fort Thomas 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 Fort Thomas.
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.