Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Lancaster is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Lancaster trails Kentucky on 19 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lancaster. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lancaster
Lancaster is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lancaster is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Lancaster
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.7%), vs 15.5% across Kentucky. Utility shut-off threats (12.6% vs 8.8%) and no reliable transportation (12.4% vs 8.8%) are higher too. 26.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Lancaster
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.3%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.5%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.1%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Lancaster runs above Kentucky on five of 11 chronic conditions. 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 Lancaster’s likely range.
What’s behind Lancaster’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lancaster is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #139 of 141 in Kentucky. All seven of Lancaster’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 24.4% of adults, against 18.5% across Kentucky and 11.8% nationally.
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). Lancaster’s median household income is $43,898; among the 3,641 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 11%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.6% of Lancaster adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Lancaster adults…
Lancaster runs above KY on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lancaster
2 community health centers in Lancaster, 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 Lancaster; ≈ 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 Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lancaster adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Lancaster adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lancaster runs above 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.
Lancaster and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | D− | 43% | 16.7% | 24.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lancaster adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lancaster
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lancaster is better than Kentucky on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Lancaster’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lancaster | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.6%27.9–33.8 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.9–22.2 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.4%18.4–22.5 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43%34.6–51.8 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.7%14.7–19.1 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.7%39.2–48.2 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%33.7–43.3 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.8%34–42 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.2–14.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.3–10.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%9.2–11.2 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.3%13–15.8 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.5%5–5.9 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.9%21.8–30.7 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.4%21.8–27.4 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.4%29.5–39.8 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.4–14.7 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.3%35.8–51.1 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.4%7.6–11.7 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%75.5–82.8 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.8%45–52.9 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82%79.2–84.7 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.7%80–85.1 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.9%55.5–66.4 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.1%61–78.1 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.8%25.7–34.4 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%20.7–27.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.7%21.3–26 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16%14.2–18 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.6%11–14.1 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.4%11.2–13.6 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.6%23.9–29.3 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.7%41.9–51.7 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24%21.7–26.6 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.2%20.1–24.5 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.5%10.3–12.8 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.8%8.1–9.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.8%12.6–15.2 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.8%6.3–7.3 | 4.4% | 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 Kentucky figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Lancaster
Is Lancaster a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lancaster is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #139 of 141 in Kentucky. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 11%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lancaster?
CDC estimates 43% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 51.8%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lancaster?
Ephraim Mcdowell Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford, 6.0 miles in a straight line from Lancaster’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Lancaster have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–11.7%), 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster.
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.