Photo: Rapidfire · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Cape Elizabeth is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns
Cape Elizabeth differs from Maine on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 24 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04107. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cape Elizabeth
Cape Elizabeth is the healthiest town in Maine we grade
Out of 143 Maine towns with a Health Grade, Cape Elizabeth comes first on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 98% of towns. Health Grade ↓
Cape Elizabeth is an active town
Only 13.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.1% across Maine. The town has 57 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Cape Elizabeth adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (27.7% vs 32%), frequent mental distress (13% vs 17.7%), lack of emotional support (18% vs 22.7%) and depression (23.1% vs 26.9%) all run below Maine. Mind & connection ↓
Few Cape Elizabeth adults smoke
7.3% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 14.4% across Maine. 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 Maine figure falls outside Cape Elizabeth’s likely range; Cape Elizabeth’s figures come from ZIP code 04107, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Cape Elizabeth’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cape Elizabeth is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, #1 of 143 in Maine. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 92%.
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). Cape Elizabeth’s median household income is $145,821; among the 3,056 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($109K–$182K), it’s healthier than 95%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
57 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves
How Cape Elizabeth adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Cape Elizabeth does better than Maine.
3 in 10 Cape Elizabeth 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.
Out of every 100 Cape Elizabeth adults…
Cape Elizabeth runs below ME on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Cape Elizabeth
No hospital or community health center in Cape Elizabeth 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 Cape Elizabeth; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cape Elizabeth adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.3% of Cape Elizabeth adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Cape Elizabeth and the towns around it
Cape Elizabeth has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Elizabeth | A+ | 24.3% | 8.8% | 7.3% | ZIP 04107 |
| Scarborough | A | 25.3% | 8.9% | 9.5% | ZIP 04074 |
| South Portland | A− | 27% | 8.7% | 11.4% | CDC place |
| Portland | A | 27.7% | 8.3% | 11.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cape Elizabeth adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cape Elizabeth
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cape Elizabeth is better than Maine on 24 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Cape Elizabeth’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cape Elizabeth | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.5%9.7–13.3 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%9.2–12 | 14.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.4–14.6 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.3%20.9–27.8 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.8%7.6–10 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.6%30.9–36.2 | 35.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%33.6–39.5 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%27.3–32.2 | 32% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.4 | 12.6% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.7%10.6–12.7 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.3–6.7 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.1%4.2–6 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.2%6.8–9.7 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.3%5.6–9 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 13.7%11.5–15.9 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13.8–18.1 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.4%23.4–29.6 | 32.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.1%3.2–5.1 | 7.8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.4%81.1–85.5 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 78.5%76.4–80.6 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.1%90.8–93.2 | 87.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.6–80.2 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 76.2%73.2–79 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.8%79.9–87.2 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%20.6–25.6 | 26.9% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 27.7%24.8–30.5 | 32% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18%15.7–20.3 | 22.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 4.5%3.5–5.7 | 10.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 4.9%4–6 | 9.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.8%3.2–4.6 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.2%3.6–5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.3%4–6.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.7%20–25.5 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.4%8–10.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.7%8.3–11.2 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.1–7.6 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.7%2.3–3.1 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.1%4.3–5.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 3.5% | 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 Maine figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Cape Elizabeth
Is Cape Elizabeth a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cape Elizabeth is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #1 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cape Elizabeth?
CDC estimates 24.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.9% and 27.8%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cape Elizabeth?
Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland, 6.6 miles in a straight line from Cape Elizabeth’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cape Elizabeth have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.2–5.1%), 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 Cape Elizabeth more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cape Elizabeth.
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.