Photo: HELVETIQ · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Bristol is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Bristol differs from Maine on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 04539, 04564, 04558, 04554. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bristol
Cancer and arthritis run high in Bristol
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (13.3%), vs 9.9% across Maine. 2 in 5 adults have arthritis (38.6%), vs 32% across Maine. In all, Bristol runs above Maine on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 43% of residents are 65 or older (Maine 22%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Bristol, and more people treating it
39.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Maine 35.7%), but 81.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Bristol keeps up with checkups
It beats Maine on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (85.3% vs 81.2%) and dentist visits (70.1% vs 63.8%). Checkups ↓
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 Maine figure falls outside Bristol’s likely range; Bristol’s figures come from ZIP codes 04539, 04564, 04558, 04554, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
What’s behind Bristol’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bristol is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, #20 of 143 in Maine. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 89% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 56%.
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). Bristol’s median household income is $100,750; among the 8,478 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($76K–$126K), it’s healthier than 79%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bristol adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Out of every 100 Bristol adults…
Bristol runs below ME on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Bristol is an older town: 43% of residents are 65 or older, vs 22% across Maine. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bristol as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Bristol
No hospital or community health center in Bristol 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 Bristol; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
15 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves
How Bristol adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bristol does better than Maine.
1 in 4 Bristol adults feel lonely. 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.
8.5% of Bristol adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Bristol and the towns around it
Bristol’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | A− | 29.4% | 11.7% | 10.4% | ZIP codes |
| South Bristol | A+ | 25.8% | 9.6% | 7.7% | ZIP codes |
| Bremen | — | — | — | — | |
| St. George | B+ | 28% | 12.1% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
| Newcastle | B+ | 30.6% | 11.7% | 12.1% | ZIP 04553 |
| Monhegan plantation | — | — | — | — | |
| Damariscotta | B | 30.8% | 12.7% | 12.6% | ZIP 04543 |
| Friendship | B+ | 28.8% | 11.8% | 13.6% | ZIP 04547 |
Bremen and Monhegan plantation: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bristol adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bristol
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bristol is better than Maine on 15 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Bristol’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bristol | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.9%12.7–19.7 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%10.9–15.5 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12–16.2 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.4%24.9–34.3 | 32.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%9.8–13.6 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.7%36–43.4 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.1%39.5–46.6 | 37.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 38.6%35.2–42.1 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 13.3%12–14.7 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.1–9.8 | 7.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.8%6–9.9 | 8.4% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.2–4.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11%9–13.2 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.4%7.6–13.6 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.8%14.8–23.2 | 23.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10.4–14.6 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.3%23.6–31.2 | 32.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4–7.8 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 85.3%82.9–87.4 | 81.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.1%67.3–72.9 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.4%89.9–92.8 | 87.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.2%78.3–83.7 | 76.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 75.6%72.1–78.9 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.4%73.6–84.3 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21.8–28.1 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.5%23.9–31.3 | 32% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%16.4–22.8 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.6%4.7–8.8 | 10.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.3%4.8–8 | 9.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.8%3.8–5.9 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5%4–6.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%5.9–11.5 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4%24.8–34.1 | 32.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%11–17.1 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%9.3–13.8 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%7.7–10.5 | 8.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.1–4.7 | 4.4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.1–8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.4–3.8 | 3.5% | 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 Maine figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bristol
Is Bristol a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bristol is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #20 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 79%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bristol?
CDC estimates 29.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.9% and 34.3%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bristol?
Lincolnhealth in Damariscotta, 9.9 miles in a straight line from Bristol’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bristol have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4–7.8%), against 7.8% across Maine.
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 Bristol 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 Bristol.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maine 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.