Center Meeting House and Common · Photo: Tim Pierce · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Oxford is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns
Oxford trails Maine on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04270. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oxford
Making ends meet is harder in Oxford
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (15.3%), vs 10.7% across Maine. Housing insecurity (13.1% vs 9.8%) and utility shut-off threats (9.8% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 20.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Oxford
56.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.8% across Maine. Among those 65 and older, 19.7% have lost all their teeth (Maine 14.8%). Checkups ↓
COPD and diabetes run high in Oxford
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.9%), vs 8.4% across Maine. 1 in 7 adults have diabetes (13.5%), vs 11.2% across Maine. In all, Oxford runs above Maine on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Oxford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Oxford is healthier than 25%. Against the 8,528 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 41%. 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 Oxford’s likely range; Oxford’s figures come from ZIP code 04270, 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 Oxford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oxford is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #124 of 143 in Maine. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 55% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Oxford’s median household income is $58,571; among the 8,528 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 41%, 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.
20.7% of Oxford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oxford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Out of every 100 Oxford adults…
Oxford runs above ME on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Oxford
No hospital or community health center in Oxford 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 Oxford; ≈ 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.
21 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Oxford adults are doing
About the same as Maine on each measure.
1 in 3 Oxford 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.
Oxford and the towns around it
Oxford’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford · Otisfield | C− | 35.5% | 13.5% | 19.2% | ZIP 04270 |
| Hebron | B− | 33.6% | 11.1% | 16.9% | ZIP codes |
| Paris | C | 35.2% | 13.8% | 17.7% | ZIP 04281 |
| Norway | D | 36.8% | 15.6% | 20.2% | ZIP 04268 |
| Mechanic Falls | C | 36.5% | 12% | 17.9% | ZIP 04256 |
| Poland | B | 34.6% | 11.3% | 14.3% | ZIP 04274 |
| Norway | — | — | — | — | |
| Mechanic Falls | — | — | — | — |
Oxford and Otisfield share one ZIP estimate, so they share a row. Norway and Mechanic Falls: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oxford adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oxford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oxford is better than Maine on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Oxford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oxford | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%20.4–26.3 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.3–19.3 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.8–20.9 | 17.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.5%31.1–40.6 | 32.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%11.9–15.3 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%34.1–40.4 | 35.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.7%37.6–44.1 | 37.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 34.7%31.9–37.5 | 32% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.8%12.4–15.3 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.8–10.6 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.6–12.4 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.7%16.6–23 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.2%16.6–22.1 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.8%22.5–29.5 | 23.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.4–18.3 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%29.8–38.4 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.4%7.8–11.2 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%78–83.4 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.9%53.7–60.1 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%84.1–87.7 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.7%73.8–79.4 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66%61.9–69.9 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76%69.9–81.5 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27%24.1–30.2 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.2%29.5–36.8 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.3–28.6 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.3%13–17.8 | 10.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.2–15.1 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.7%8.5–11 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.7%17.9–23.8 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.9%30.4–37.8 | 32.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.4%14.4–18.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%16–20.2 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%8–10 | 8.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9–11.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5.3 | 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 Oxford
Is Oxford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oxford is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #124 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 41%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Oxford?
CDC estimates 35.5% of adults (the figure for ZIP code 04270, which Oxford shares with Otisfield) have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 40.6%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oxford?
Mainehealth Stephens Hospital in Norway, 5.4 miles in a straight line from Oxford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oxford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–11.2%), 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 Oxford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−. The figures are ZIP code 04270’s, shared with Otisfield.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oxford.
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.