Bates, Asa, Memorial Chapel · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Fairfield is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns
Fairfield differs from Maine on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 04937, 04944. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fairfield
Making ends meet is harder in Fairfield
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (14.4%), vs 10.7% across Maine. Utility shut-off threats (10.6% vs 7.4%) and housing insecurity (13% vs 9.8%) are higher too. 20.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Fairfield
57.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.8% across Maine. Among those 65 and older, 21.1% have lost all their teeth (Maine 14.8%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Fairfield
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.2%), 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 Fairfield’s likely range; Fairfield’s figures come from ZIP codes 04937, 04944, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Fairfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairfield is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #126 of 143 in Maine. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 41% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Fairfield’s median household income is $64,101; among the 9,751 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.6% of Fairfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fairfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
26 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Fairfield adults…
Fairfield runs below ME on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Fairfield
No hospital or community health center in Fairfield 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 Fairfield; ≈ 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).
How Fairfield adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Fairfield runs above Maine.
1 in 3 Fairfield 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.
Fairfield and the towns around it
Fairfield’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | C− | 37.4% | 12.7% | 20.2% | ZIP codes |
| Benton | C | 33% | 12.2% | 16.4% | ZIP 04901 |
| Clinton | C+ | 33.2% | 11.6% | 16.7% | ZIP 04927 |
| Fairfield | — | — | — | — | |
| Norridgewock | D | 39.1% | 14.9% | 22% | ZIP 04957 |
| Smithfield | — | — | — | — | |
| Skowhegan | C− | 37.1% | 13.6% | 19.5% | ZIP 04976 |
Fairfield: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Smithfield: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fairfield adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fairfield
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fairfield is better than Maine on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Fairfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fairfield | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.4%19.7–25.2 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15–18.7 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.7–23 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.4%32.9–42.2 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.8%33.9–39.9 | 35.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%36.2–42.5 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.4%30.8–36.2 | 32% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.9%12.5–15.4 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8.1–9.7 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.3–9.1 | 7.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.1%17.9–24.7 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.2%17.5–23.1 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27%23.5–30.7 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.6–17.4 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.9%34.7–43.3 | 32.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.5–10.9 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%79–84.3 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.4%54.2–60.6 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.6–87.2 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%71–76.8 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.1%62.3–69.9 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%70.2–80.9 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.8%26.7–33.1 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%31.5–38.8 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.5%21.7–27.6 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.4%12.3–16.8 | 10.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13%11.2–14.9 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%9.3–12.1 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.6%18–23.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%32.9–40.3 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%14.3–18.2 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.7%16.6–20.9 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.9–9.8 | 8.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.9–11.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5 | 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 Fairfield
Is Fairfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairfield is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #126 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 Fairfield?
CDC estimates 37.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 42.2%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fairfield?
Redington Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, 7.9 miles in a straight line from Fairfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fairfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.9%), 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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield.
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.