Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Durham is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns
Durham differs from Maine on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04222. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Durham
Health varies a lot right around Durham
Grades next door run from Freeport (A) to Lewiston (C−). Durham is a B+. Around town ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Durham
Durham runs below Maine on four chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (5.8% vs 7.6%), stroke (2.8% vs 3.6%) and COPD (6.6% vs 8.4%). A young population is part of it: only 17% of residents are 65 or older (Maine 22%). Conditions ↓
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 Durham’s likely range; Durham’s figures come from ZIP code 04222, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Durham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns, #42 of 143 in Maine. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 81% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). Durham’s median household income is $99,181; among the 8,719 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$124K), it’s healthier than 60%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Durham adults…
Durham runs below ME on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Durham and the towns around it
Durham’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | B+ | 33.7% | 10% | 13.6% | ZIP 04222 |
| Lisbon | B− | 34.1% | 11.2% | 14.6% | ZIP codes |
| Lisbon Falls | — | — | — | — | |
| Topsham | A− | 28.7% | 10.7% | 12.9% | ZIP 04086 |
| Lewiston | C− | 37.8% | 12.9% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Auburn | C+ | 35.3% | 12.2% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| Pownal | A− | 27.7% | 9.8% | 12.6% | ZIP 04069 |
| Freeport | A | 27.1% | 9.8% | 11.1% | ZIP 04032 |
Lisbon Falls: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Durham
No hospital or community health center in Durham 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 Durham; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
3.9 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Durham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How Durham adults are doing
About the same as Maine on each measure.
1 in 3 Durham 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.
11.4% of Durham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Durham adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Durham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Durham is better than Maine on 6 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Durham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Durham | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.6%12.8–18.8 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11–15.1 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.4–20.4 | 17.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%29.1–38.7 | 32.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.5–11.6 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.9%26.9–33.1 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%33.6–40.1 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%27–32.7 | 32% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.4–14.3 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5–6.7 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.6%5.3–8.1 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.4–3.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.3%11–15.8 | 14.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6%10.5–16.9 | 14.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.1%17.3–25.3 | 23.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%14–19.1 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7%30.5–38.7 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.9%5.1–9.2 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%76.7–82.5 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.4%64.5–70.1 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%85.8–89.9 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.1%69.7–76.4 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66%61.9–69.6 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 84.6%79.8–88.4 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.9%25.7–32.4 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%27.8–35.8 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.6%19–26.1 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.2%6.8–11.8 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%7.5–11.9 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%5.7–8.6 | 7.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%5.6–8.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.4%8.5–14.8 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.8%23.7–32 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11%9–13.2 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14%11.8–16.7 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.7–7.4 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%2.9–4.1 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.6–8.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.3–3.4 | 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 Durham
Is Durham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #42 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 60%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Durham?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 38.7%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Durham?
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, 9.4 miles in a straight line from Durham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Durham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–9.2%), 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 Durham 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 Durham.
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.