Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Machias is healthier than 56%
Machias trails Maine on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04654. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Machias
More Machias adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.1%), vs 23.1% across Maine. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Machias
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16.9%), vs 10.7% across Maine. No reliable transportation (11.3% vs 7.8%) and utility shut-off threats (10.1% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 23.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Machias is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Machias is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
More Machias adults live with a disability
43% of adults live with a disability, vs 32.1% across Maine. The biggest difference is vision loss: 6.5% vs 4.4%. Disability ↓
Machias is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Machias is healthier than 8%. Against the 1,156 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 56%. Health Grade ↓
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 Machias’ likely range; Machias’ figures come from ZIP code 04654, 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 Machias’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Machias is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 21% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Machias’ median household income is $34,375; among the 1,156 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 56%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
6.9 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.6% of Machias adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Machias adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Out of every 100 Machias adults…
Machias runs above ME on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Machias
1 community health center in Machias, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Machias; ≈ 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 Machias adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How Machias adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Machias runs above Maine.
4 in 10 Machias 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.
Machias 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machias | D | 40% | 14.4% | 19.5% | ZIP 04654 |
| Machiasport | C− | 38.4% | 13.2% | 16.8% | ZIP 04655 |
| Marshfield | — | — | — | — | |
| Whitneyville | — | — | — | — | |
| Roque Bluffs | — | — | — | — | |
| Machias | — | — | — | — |
Marshfield, Whitneyville and Roque Bluffs: fewer than 1,000 residents. Machias: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Machias
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Machias is better than Maine on 0 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Machias’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Machias | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%22.7–28.8 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.7–20.8 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.8–23 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40%35.1–44.7 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.7–16.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.6%38.5–44.6 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%34.2–40.3 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.9%35.2–40.6 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.5%12.1–14.9 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.2–11 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.7%8.7–10.7 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23%19.8–26.4 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.5%16.9–22.3 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.1%30.3–38.2 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.3%12.1–16.6 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%35.3–44.3 | 32.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11%9–13.3 | 7.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%78.2–83.6 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.5%50.3–56.8 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.6–85.6 | 87.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.7%74.1–79 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.7%61.6–69.6 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.7%68.7–80 | 80.3% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.9%24.8–31 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.7%33–40.9 | 32% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%22.8–29.4 | 22.7% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.9%14.3–19.9 | 10.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.3–15.2 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%9.9–12.9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.6%20.4–27.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43%39.3–46.9 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.8–22.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.7%17.6–22 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.7–12 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.4 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.5%10.1–13 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 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 Machias
Is Machias a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Machias is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Machias?
CDC estimates 40% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.1% and 44.7%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Machias?
Down East Community Hospital in Machias, 6.3 miles in a straight line from Machias’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Machias have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–13.3%), 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 Machias 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 Machias.
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.