Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Howland is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Howland trails Maine on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 04448, 04453. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Howland
More Howland adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.2%), vs 23.1% across Maine. There are 12 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Howland is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Howland is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Howland
1 in 8 adults have COPD (13.3%), vs 8.4% across Maine. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.2%), vs 3.6% across Maine. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.9%, vs 7.6% across Maine. In all, Howland runs above Maine on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Howland adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (42.3%, vs 32.1% across Maine). The biggest difference is vision loss: 7% vs 4.4%. Disability ↓
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 Howland’s likely range; Howland’s figures come from ZIP codes 04448, 04453, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Howland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Howland is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns. All seven of Howland’s estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 20.1% of adults, against 14.3% across Maine and 13% nationally.
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). Howland’s median household income is $49,297; among the 5,521 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 9%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Howland adults…
Howland runs above ME on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Howland adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Care in and near Howland
No hospital or community health center in Howland 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 Howland; ≈ 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 Howland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How Howland adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Howland runs above Maine.
1 in 3 Howland 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.
24.9% of Howland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Howland and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howland | D− | 42.4% | 15.8% | 21.3% | ZIP codes |
| Howland | — | — | — | — | |
| Maxfield | — | — | — | — | |
| Edinburg | — | — | — | — | |
| Lagrange | — | — | — | — |
Howland: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Maxfield, Edinburg and Lagrange: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Howland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Howland is better than Maine on 0 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Howland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Howland | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.4%25.2–31.8 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%18–22.3 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.7–22.8 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.4%38.2–46.7 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.8%14.1–17.7 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.1%42.4–48 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.1%39.2–44.9 | 37.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 39%36.4–41.6 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14.1%12.7–15.5 | 12.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.8%9.9–11.9 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.3%11.6–15.2 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.3%19.9–26.8 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.3%18.4–24.4 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.2%30.4–38.3 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.8–15.6 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4%33.4–41.3 | 32.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%8.7–13 | 7.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.1%80.8–85.2 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.3%49.1–55.5 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.8–87.4 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.7–80.4 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.3%62.6–70 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.9%71.5–81.6 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.5%26.7–32.4 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%31.7–38.5 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%22.2–28.3 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.8%14.1–19.8 | 10.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%10.8–14.8 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.4%9–12 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.2%9.8–12.8 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.9%21.2–28.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.3%38.6–46 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22%19.5–24.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.9%17.6–22.3 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.3%10.2–12.6 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.2–7.9 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%4.9–6.5 | 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 Howland
Is Howland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Howland is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 9%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Howland?
CDC estimates 42.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.2% and 46.7%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Howland?
Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln, 11.2 miles in a straight line from Howland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Howland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–13%), 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 Howland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Howland.
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.