Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Caribou is healthier than 51%
Caribou trails Maine on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Caribou. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Caribou
Dental care lags in Caribou
55.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.8% across Maine. Among those 65 and older, 21.1% have lost all their teeth (Maine 14.8%). Checkups ↓
More Caribou adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29.6%), vs 23.1% across Maine. There are 75 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure run high in Caribou
1 in 7 adults have diabetes (13.6%), vs 11.2% across Maine. 2 in 5 adults have obesity (38.8%), vs 32.7% across Maine. High blood pressure is also above the state: 41.7%, vs 35.7% across Maine. In all, Caribou runs above Maine on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Caribou is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Caribou is healthier than 26%. Against the 7,020 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 51%. Health Grade ↓
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 Caribou’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Caribou’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Caribou is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #123 of 143 in Maine. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 39% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Caribou’s median household income is $53,709; among the 7,020 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 51%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Caribou adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
75 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Caribou adults…
Caribou runs above ME on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Caribou
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Caribou, 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 Caribou; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Caribou adults are doing
About the same as Maine on each measure.
1 in 3 Caribou 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.
17% of Caribou adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Caribou and the towns around it
Caribou has the best Health Grade of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caribou | C | 38.8% | 13.6% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Limestone | D | 40% | 14.9% | 18% | ZIP 04750 |
| Woodland | C− | 39.2% | 13.8% | 16.8% | ZIP 04736 |
| Presque Isle | C− | 38.8% | 13.2% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Fort Fairfield | C− | 40% | 13.8% | 18.2% | ZIP 04742 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Caribou adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Caribou
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Caribou is better than Maine on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Caribou’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Caribou | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%18.9–24.3 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.5–18.2 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.8–19.6 | 17.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%34–43.6 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.6%12–15.3 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.7%38.4–45 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%37.4–43.9 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.5%32.6–38.3 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.2%11.8–14.6 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.5–11.5 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.6 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.1%18–24.7 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%13.9–18.8 | 14.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%25.9–33.6 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%11.2–15.6 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.6%32.5–41.1 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%6.8–9.9 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.7%80.2–85.1 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.9%52.6–59.1 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.6%86.1–89.2 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%76.1–81.1 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%65.6–73 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.3%74–84.2 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%22.3–28.1 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.3%29.6–37 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%21.3–27.3 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.9%10–13.9 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.5%8.9–12.1 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.9–9.1 | 7.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%6.9–9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17%14.5–19.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%32.6–39.9 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%15–19.3 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14–17.9 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.7–10.9 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.5–5.6 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 3.5% | 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 Maine figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Caribou
Is Caribou a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Caribou is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #123 of 143 in Maine. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Caribou?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34% and 43.6%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Caribou?
Cary Medical Center in Caribou, 3.8 miles in a straight line from Caribou’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Caribou have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–9.9%), 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 Caribou more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Caribou.
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.