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Auto Rest Park, Carmel, Maine, eleven miles west of Bangor (66697)Photo: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher · Public domain
≈ C+Health Grade
Health in Carmel · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Carmel is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns

Carmel differs from Maine on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 4 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04419. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Carmel

Obesity runs high in Carmel

2 in 5 adults have obesity (38.6%), vs 32.7% across Maine. Conditions ↓

Health varies a lot right around Carmel

Grades next door run from Newburgh (A−) to Etna (D). Carmel is a C+. Around town ↓

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 Carmel’s likely range; Carmel’s figures come from ZIP code 04419, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Carmel’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carmel is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns, #105 of 143 in Maine. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 70% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 9%).

B−Self-rated health20.1% · ME 18.7% · U.S. 19.4%
CPhysical distress15.5% · ME 14.3% · U.S. 13%
DMental distress20.1% · ME 17.7% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity38.6% · ME 32.7% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.8% · ME 11.2% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking16.7% smoke · ME 14.4% · U.S. 11.8%
B−Exercise25.7% · ME 23.1% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 35%
Less healthyHealthier
Maine towns we grade (143)Healthier than 27%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $62K–$103K (10,600)Healthier than 26%

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). Carmel’s median household income is $82,188; among the 10,600 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$103K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Carmel could be anywhere from D to B+. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 04419), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Carmel adults…

Carmel runs below ME on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.

39 of every 100 Carmel adults have obesity
Maine: 33 in 100 · worse · likely 34.3–42.9%
Better than MEWorseAbout the sameMaine
Around town

Carmel and the towns around it

Carmel’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.

Etna: 40.8%Hermon: 37.4%Newburgh: 35.3%Plymouth: 39.1%Dixmont: 39.6%Hampden: 35.3%Glenburn: 37.4%Bangor: 37.9%Carmel: 38.6%CarmelEtnaHermonNewburghSt. Joseph Hospital · Bangor · 11.4 mi · 3★ MedicareHNorthern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center · Bangor · 12.5 mi · 5★ MedicareHPenobscot Pediatrics · Bangor · 9.4 mi+
Healthier than MENear MELess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#6 of 9 towns on this map, healthiest first
Newburgh35.3%
Hermon37.4%
Carmel38.6%
Etna40.8%
ME32.7%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
CarmelC+38.6%10.8%16.7%ZIP 04419
EtnaD40.8%13.4%20%ZIP 04434
HermonB−37.4%10.6%14.7%ZIP 04401
NewburghA−35.3%9.5%11.9%ZIP 04444

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Getting care

Care in and near Carmel

No hospital or community health center in Carmel itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERSt. Joseph HospitalBangor · 11.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyNorthern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center★★★★★ · 12.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePenobscot Community Health CenterBangor · 9.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
9.4 mi
Penobscot Community Health Center
8 sites · nearest in Bangor
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
11.4 mi
St. Joseph Hospital
Bangor · ★★★★★
ER
12.5 mi
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center
Bangor · ★★★★★
ER
18.1 mi
Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital
Pittsfield · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
23.3 mi
Mainehealth Waldo Hospital
Belfast · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careCarmel is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careCarmel is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthCarmel is not a shortage area

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 Carmel; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Maine

Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.

Get no exercise 25.7%ME 23.1%
Sleep under 7 hours 36.1%ME 32.8%
Binge drink 16.8%ME 15.5%
Smoke cigarettes 16.7%ME 14.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Carmel, betterCarmel, worseAbout the sameMaine
Where Carmel gets moving

1.3 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Carmel adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.

81%Yearly checkupME 81%
61%Dentist visitME 64%
86%Cholesterol checkME 87%
71%Colon screeningME 71%
80%MammogramME 80%
73%Taking BP medsME 76%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Carmel 8.3% · Maine 1 in 13 (7.8%)
Mind & connection

How Carmel adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Carmel runs above Maine.

1 in 3Carmel adults feel lonely
35.3% · ME 32% · About the same as ME
1 in 4Carmel adults lack social or emotional support
24.7% · ME 22.7% · About the same as ME
3 in 10Carmel adults have been diagnosed with depression
29.4% · ME 26.9% · About the same as ME
1 in 5Carmel adults are in frequent mental distress
20.1% · ME 17.7% · Worse than ME
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Carmel adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 9
Carmel adults worry about having enough food
11.3% · ME 10.7%
About the same as ME
1 in 10
Carmel adults worry about keeping their housing
10.3% · ME 9.8%
About the same as ME
1 in 13
Carmel adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.8% · ME 7.4%
About the same as ME
1 in 12
Carmel adults lack reliable transportation
8.4% · ME 7.8%
About the same as ME

15.3% of Carmel adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

33.1%

of Carmel adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.1%
Thinking or memory17%
Hearing7.7%
Errands alone8.2%
Vision4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.5%
Maine

Every CDC estimate for Carmel

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carmel is better than Maine on 2 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Carmel’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…CarmelMEU.S.vs ME
Overall health
Fair or poor health20.1%17.1–23.318.7%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15.5%13.5–17.514.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)20.1%17.9–22.517.7%15.9%Worse
Conditions
Obesity38.6%34.3–42.932.7%32.9%Worse
Diabetes10.8%9.4–12.211.2%12%About the same
High blood pressure35.9%33.1–38.735.7%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.9%34.2–39.637.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis30.8%28.3–33.332%25.3%About the same
Asthma13.5%12.1–14.912.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.9%8.1–9.89.9%7.9%Better
Coronary heart disease7%6.2–7.87.6%6.4%About the same
COPD8.3%7–9.88.4%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.3%2.9–3.73.6%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)11.8%9.8–1414.8%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.7%13.6–19.814.4%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work25.7%21.8–29.523.1%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking16.8%14.7–19.115.5%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours36.1%32.4–40.132.8%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.3%6.3–10.77.8%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year81.1%78.6–83.481.2%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year60.7%57.7–63.663.8%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.8%83.7–87.887.1%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)72.9%70.1–75.576.4%76.5%Worse
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)71.3%67.7–74.670.5%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)79.5%74.8–83.880.3%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression29.4%26.5–32.426.9%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely35.3%31.9–3932%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support24.7%21.7–28.222.7%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food11.3%8.9–14.110.7%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10.3%8.5–12.59.8%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off7.8%6.6–9.27.4%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8.4%7.1–9.97.8%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)15.3%12.1–18.914.3%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability33.1%29.1–36.932.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.1%12.1–16.314%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering17%14.6–19.615.5%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.7%6.8–8.68.4%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.3%3.7–54.4%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.2%7–9.68.1%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.5%2.9–4.13.5%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 Carmel

Is Carmel a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carmel is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #105 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 26%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Carmel?

CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.3% and 42.9%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Carmel?

St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, 11.4 miles in a straight line from Carmel’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Carmel have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–10.7%), 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 Carmel 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 Carmel.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.