Photo: Greencan7 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Kittery is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Kittery differs from Maine on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 03904, 03905. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kittery
Fewer Kittery adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Maine. 1 in 13 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 9 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer runs high in Kittery
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.5%), vs 9.9% across Maine. Conditions ↓
Kittery adults report less mental distress
Frequent mental distress (15.4% vs 17.7%) and depression (24.1% vs 26.9%) both run below Maine. Mind & connection ↓
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 Kittery’s likely range; Kittery’s figures come from ZIP codes 03904, 03905, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Kittery’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kittery is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #22 of 143 in Maine. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 85% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 75%.
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). Kittery’s median household income is $93,728; among the 9,481 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($70K–$117K), it’s healthier than 84%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.5% of Kittery adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Out of every 100 Kittery adults…
Kittery runs below ME on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
How Kittery adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Kittery does better than Maine.
3 in 10 Kittery 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.
Care in and near Kittery
No hospital or community health center in Kittery 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 Kittery; ≈ 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.
24 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kittery adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Kittery and the towns around it
Kittery’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kittery | A− | 31.7% | 10.2% | 11.5% | ZIP codes |
| York | A− | 31.3% | 10.8% | 10.6% | ZIP codes |
| Eliot | A− | 32.4% | 10% | 12.1% | ZIP 03903 |
| South Eliot | — | — | — | — |
South Eliot: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kittery adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kittery
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kittery is better than Maine on 13 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Kittery’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kittery | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.4%14.1–18.8 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.9–14 | 14.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.6–17.2 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.7%27.6–35.7 | 32.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%33–38.5 | 35.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%35.2–40.9 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.1%29.5–34.6 | 32% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.3%11–13.6 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.5%10.5–12.5 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 7.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.3%6.3–8.6 | 8.4% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.7%8–11.6 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.5%9.4–13.6 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.7%16.7–22.6 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%14.3–18.8 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.9%26.4–33.5 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.3–8.1 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%79.4–84 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68%65.2–70.6 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.7–90.6 | 87.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.5–81.2 | 76.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.9%69.5–76 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82%77.5–85.9 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%21.4–26.8 | 26.9% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 29.3%26.1–32.4 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.5%18–23.2 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.6%6.2–9.2 | 10.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.5%6.4–9 | 9.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6%5.2–7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%7.8–11.5 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%26.9–33.6 | 32.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.4%10.6–14.2 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.7%11.9–15.5 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 8.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.8–7.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.6–3.4 | 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 Kittery
Is Kittery a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kittery is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #22 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kittery?
CDC estimates 31.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 35.7%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kittery?
York Hospital in York, 9.8 miles in a straight line from Kittery’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kittery have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–8.1%), 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 Kittery more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kittery.
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.