Photo: Mhuy222 · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Union is healthier than 47%
Union differs from Kentucky on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Union. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Union
Against towns with similar incomes, Union’s lead shrinks
Union is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, but 47% of the 3,872 towns with similar household incomes ($103K–$171K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Union doesn’t win on
17.9% of adults binge drink, vs 14.2% across Kentucky, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Union is an active town
Only 17.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.9% across Kentucky. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Union
Union runs below Kentucky on six chronic conditions, most of all COPD (6.2% vs 10.2%), stroke (2.5% vs 4%) and heart disease (5.5% vs 8.2%). 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 Union’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Union’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #14 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 51%.
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). Union’s median household income is $136,712; among the 3,872 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($103K–$171K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
1.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Union adults…
Union runs below KY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Union
No hospital or community health center in Union 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 Union; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Union adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Union adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Union 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.
5.7% of Union adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Union and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Union adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Union
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Union is better than Kentucky on 19 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Union’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Union | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.3%12.6–16.1 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 15.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13–16.2 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.1%29.9–42.8 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.2%8.8–11.7 | 13.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32%28.2–36.1 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.1%29–37.5 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.2%22.1–28.5 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10%8.7–11.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.7 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%8.9–13.7 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.8–14.2 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.8%15–21.1 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.7–21.5 | 14.2% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%31.2–43.2 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.2%3.3–5.1 | 5.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.4–81.7 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.9%65.5–72.2 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.9%85.6–89.9 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%75.6–82.3 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.6%62.8–72.2 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%69.8–83.3 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21.2–28.4 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.9%17–23.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 15.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.5–6 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5%4.5–5.6 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.7%4.9–6.5 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.2%24.7–31.9 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%11.2–14.1 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.3–6.8 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%2.1–2.5 | 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 Union
Is Union a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #14 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 Union?
CDC estimates 36.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.9% and 42.8%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Union?
St. Elizabeth Florence in Florence, 5.0 miles in a straight line from Union’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Union have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.3–5.1%), 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 Union 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 Union.
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.