Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Masonbarge assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY 2.5On CDC estimates, Castine is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Castine differs from Maine on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04421. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Castine
Binge drinking is the habit Castine doesn’t win on
21.8% of adults binge drink, vs 15.5% across Maine, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and COPD are less common in Castine
Castine runs below Maine on nine chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (6.8% vs 11.2%), COPD (5.2% vs 8.4%) and arthritis (20.1% vs 32%). Conditions ↓
Castine is an active town
Only 15.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.1% across Maine. The town has 14 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Castine is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Penobscot (B+). 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 Castine’s likely range; Castine’s figures come from ZIP code 04421, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Castine’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Castine is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). Castine’s median household income is $113,750; among the 6,643 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($85K–$142K), it’s healthier than 84%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Castine adults…
Castine runs below ME on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Castine and the towns around it
Castine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castine | A | 22.7% | 6.8% | 8.6% | ZIP 04421 |
| Brooksville | — | — | — | — | |
| Penobscot | B+ | 29.6% | 12.5% | 12.7% | ZIP 04476 |
| Islesboro | — | — | — | — | |
| Stockton Springs | C | 35.3% | 13.2% | 16.4% | ZIP 04981 |
| Searsport | C | 35.3% | 12.6% | 16.6% | ZIP 04974 |
Brooksville and Islesboro: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Castine
No hospital or community health center in Castine 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 Castine; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Castine adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How Castine adults are doing
About the same as Maine on each measure.
1 in 3 Castine 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.
8.3% of Castine adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Castine adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Castine
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Castine is better than Maine on 18 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Castine’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Castine | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13%10.4–15.8 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.1%8.4–11.8 | 14.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%14.7–22 | 17.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.7%18.7–26.7 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.8%5.9–7.7 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23.7%21.4–26 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29%26.3–31.7 | 37.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.1%18.4–21.8 | 32% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11%9.6–12.4 | 12.6% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.4–7.7 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.2%4.4–6 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.8%8.8–13.2 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.6%6.4–11 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.2%11.9–18.7 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.8%18.8–24.8 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.6%25.5–33.8 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.1%4.6–10.4 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.2%72.8–79.6 | 81.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.1%61.6–68.3 | 63.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 76.9%71.7–81.6 | 87.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.4%67.7–73.1 | 76.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 75%71.3–78.4 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.2%74.5–84.8 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.8–28.9 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.8%31.3–40.7 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%18.2–27.1 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8%5.6–10.8 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.1%5.2–9.1 | 9.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%3.8–6.1 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%5.5–9.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.3%6.1–10.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.2%22.8–33.5 | 32.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.5%7.2–9.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%12.4–20.7 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%2.7–3.9 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.1–8.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| 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 Castine
Is Castine a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Castine is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Castine?
CDC estimates 22.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.7% and 26.7%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Castine?
Northern Light Blue Hill Memorial Hospital in Blue Hill, 10.9 miles in a straight line from Castine’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Castine have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–10.4%), 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 Castine 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 Castine.
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.