Photo: Back2reality07 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, New Sharon is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns
New Sharon differs from Maine on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 04955, 04938. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in New Sharon
Every town around New Sharon scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of New Sharon’s C, from Farmington (C+) to Rome (B−). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in New Sharon
1 in 8 adults worry about keeping their housing (12.3%), vs 9.8% across Maine. Utility shut-off threats (9% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 18.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD and stroke run high in New Sharon
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 8.4% across Maine. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.2%), vs 3.6% across Maine. In all, New Sharon runs above Maine on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 New Sharon’s likely range; New Sharon’s figures come from ZIP codes 04955, 04938, 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 New Sharon’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Sharon is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 46% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). New Sharon’s median household income is $63,889; among the 9,713 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 36%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
New Sharon and the towns around it
New Sharon’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Sharon | C | 36.7% | 12.4% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
| Chesterville · Farmington | C+ | 34.2% | 11% | 15.3% | ZIP 04938 |
| Mercer | — | — | — | — | |
| Industry | — | — | — | — | |
| Starks | — | — | — | — | |
| Vienna | — | — | — | — | |
| Rome | B− | 32.4% | 11.5% | 15.3% | ZIP 04963 |
Mercer, Industry, Starks and Vienna: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.9% of New Sharon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Out of every 100 New Sharon adults…
New Sharon runs below ME on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near New Sharon
No hospital or community health center in New Sharon 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 New Sharon; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
22 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of New Sharon adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How New Sharon adults are doing
About the same as Maine on each measure.
1 in 3 New Sharon 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of New Sharon adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for New Sharon
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, New Sharon is better than Maine on 1 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside New Sharon’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | New Sharon | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.1%18.6–25.8 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.1–18.7 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%16.9–21.6 | 17.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.7%31.9–41.5 | 32.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.4%10.7–14.2 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.9%35.4–42.1 | 35.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%36.2–42.8 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.9%32–37.8 | 32% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.5%12–14.9 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.3 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–10.1 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%8.7–12.3 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12%9.8–14.2 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%14.8–21.7 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%22.5–31.3 | 23.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.4–17.1 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%31.5–40.4 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%6.4–11 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.9–82.6 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%56.9–63.2 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%85–88.9 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73.1–78.7 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.4%67.4–74.9 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.2%74.8–84.8 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.5%25.3–31.8 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.7%30.5–38.8 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.1–28.4 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.5%10.5–16.8 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%9.9–14.8 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9%7.5–10.7 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.3–10.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.9%14.9–23.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.6%31.9–41.2 | 32.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.2%13.8–19 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%14.9–20.1 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.5–10.9 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.5–6.1 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%7.9–11 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 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 New Sharon
Is New Sharon a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Sharon is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 36%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in New Sharon?
CDC estimates 36.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 41.5%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to New Sharon?
Mainehealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, 8.1 miles in a straight line from New Sharon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in New Sharon have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–11%), 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 New Sharon 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 New Sharon.
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.