Abel Jones House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, China is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns
China beats Maine on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04358. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in China
What’s behind China’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, China is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #44 of 143 in Maine. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 80% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 53%.
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). China’s median household income is $96,309; among the 9,130 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$120K), it’s healthier than 61%, about where its income would put it.
China and the towns around it
China has the best Health Grade of the 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
Out of every 100 China adults…
China runs below ME on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near China
No hospital or community health center in China 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 China; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of China adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How China adults are doing
About the same as Maine on each measure.
3 in 10 China 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.
10.9% of China adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of China adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for China
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, China is better than Maine on 2 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside China’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | China | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.3%14.4–20.2 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.7–15.6 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.8–19.1 | 17.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.1%26.8–35.6 | 32.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.2–12.4 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.2%30.2–36.3 | 35.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%34.1–40.5 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32%29.2–34.9 | 32% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.9–13.5 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.5 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%5.9–7.8 | 7.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.1–9 | 8.4% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.7–8.4 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6%10.6–16.5 | 14.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.4%17.6–25.3 | 23.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.4–15.9 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%29.5–37.7 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5–8.7 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%78.7–84.1 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.4%66.6–72.2 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%86.7–90.4 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.2%73.1–79 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.4%67.9–75 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.8%74.7–84.6 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.1%24.1–30.2 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.4%25.9–33.5 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.3–26.1 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.7%6.6–11.2 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9%7.1–11.1 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.3%5.1–7.6 | 7.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.5%5.4–7.9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.9%8.3–14.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.1%26.9–35.1 | 32.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.6%10.5–14.9 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%12.3–16.7 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%6.9–8.9 | 8.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.1–4.3 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6–8.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.6–3.7 | 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 China
Is China a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, China is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #44 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 61%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in China?
CDC estimates 31.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.8% and 35.6%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to China?
Maine General Medical Center in Augusta, 11.3 miles in a straight line from China’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in China have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–8.7%), 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 China more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in China.
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.