On CDC estimates, Exeter is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Exeter trails Maine on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04435. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Exeter
COPD, diabetes and obesity run high in Exeter
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.8%), vs 8.4% across Maine. 1 in 7 adults have diabetes (13.8%), vs 11.2% across Maine. Obesity is also above the state: 40.1%, vs 32.7% across Maine. In all, Exeter runs above Maine on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Exeter adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30%), vs 23.1% across Maine. Habits ↓
Smoking is more common in Exeter
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.9%), vs 14.4% across Maine. Habits ↓
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 Exeter’s likely range; Exeter’s figures come from ZIP code 04435, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Exeter’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Exeter is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 25% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Exeter’s median household income is $84,408; among the 10,446 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$106K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Exeter adults…
Exeter runs above ME on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
8.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Exeter
No hospital or community health center in Exeter 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 Exeter; ≈ 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 Exeter adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How Exeter adults are doing
About the same as Maine on each measure.
1 in 3 Exeter 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.
18.3% of Exeter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Exeter and the towns around it
Exeter’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Exeter adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Exeter
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Exeter is better than Maine on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Exeter’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Exeter | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.2%20.7–28 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.6–20.1 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.1–21.4 | 17.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%35.8–44.3 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.8%11.9–15.7 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.2%39–45.2 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.1%38.2–44.1 | 37.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.1%33.2–38.9 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.4%12.1–14.8 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.4–11.4 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8–10.5 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.8%9–12.7 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.7–4.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.5%14.6–20.6 | 14.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%15.4–22.5 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30%25.7–34.4 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.7–16.6 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%30.7–38.3 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%7.5–12 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.8%80.5–85 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.4%58.3–64.3 | 63.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.1–88.9 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.4–79.6 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.6%68.2–74.7 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80%75.1–84.3 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.1%25.3–30.9 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%30.9–38 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.7–28.4 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.2%10.3–16.3 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.7%8.6–12.9 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%6.8–9.7 | 7.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%7.5–10.6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.3%14.4–22.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.3%33.1–41.6 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.2%15.5–21 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.5%15.2–20.2 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 8.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.6–6.3 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8–11 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%3.7–5.3 | 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 Exeter
Is Exeter a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Exeter is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Exeter?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.8% and 44.3%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Exeter?
Northern Light Mayo Hospital in Dover Foxcroft, 16.4 miles in a straight line from Exeter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Exeter have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–12%), 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 Exeter more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Exeter.
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.