Keeneland-Keeneland Racetrack · Photo: Jason Phillips (user:Wildcat~commonswiki) · CC BY 2.5Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Lexington is healthier than 80%
Lexington differs from Kentucky on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lexington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lexington
Lexington is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Lexington is healthier than 63%. Against the 10,482 towns with similar household incomes ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 80%. Health Grade ↓
Lexington has five hospitals within its borders
5 hospitals and 3 community health centers are inside Lexington. University of Kentucky Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Lexington
Lexington runs below Kentucky on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (7.3% vs 10.2%), heart disease (6.2% vs 8.2%) and stroke (3.1% vs 4%). Conditions ↓
Lexington is an active town
Only 22.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.9% across Kentucky. The town has 83 miles of trails across 98 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Lexington’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Lexington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lexington is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #35 of 141 in Kentucky. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 72% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). Lexington’s median household income is $69,479; among the 10,482 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 80%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 329,751 residents, Lexington is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Lexington
5 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Lexington.
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 Lexington; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Lexington adults…
Lexington runs below KY on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
83 miles of trails across 98 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lexington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Lexington 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.
15.1% of Lexington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Lexington and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | B | 33.9% | 11.4% | 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 Lexington adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lexington
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lexington is better than Kentucky on 13 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Lexington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lexington | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19%17–21.1 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.4–14.3 | 15.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.6–19 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.9%28.1–40 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%9.9–13 | 13.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.6%31.1–38.3 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.8%27.3–34.5 | 36.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.3%23.3–29.5 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.5–7.8 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.6–6.8 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.3 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.9–17 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%12.7–16.3 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22.3%18.9–25.9 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.6–18.5 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.1%32.6–43.9 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.8–7.5 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%74.3–81.1 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.3%57.9–64.6 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.6%79.8–85 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.7–81.3 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.1%63.3–72.6 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.6%65.6–80.6 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22.3–29.4 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.8–25.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.1%14.5–17.8 | 15.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.4%11–14 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%8.1–10.5 | 8.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.1%13.5–16.8 | 14.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%28.8–36.5 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.4%11.9–15 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%14.5–17.8 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.2–7.8 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%5–5.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.7–9.3 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.4–3.9 | 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 Lexington
Is Lexington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lexington is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #35 of 141 in Kentucky. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lexington?
CDC estimates 33.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.1% and 40%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lexington?
University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington, 2.7 miles in a straight line from Lexington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lexington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–7.5%), 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 Lexington more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lexington.
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.