Gov. Abner Coburn House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Skowhegan is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns
Skowhegan trails Maine on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04976. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Skowhegan
Making ends meet is harder in Skowhegan
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (14.9%), vs 10.7% across Maine. Utility shut-off threats (10.6% vs 7.4%) and no reliable transportation (10.1% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 22% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Skowhegan
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.3%), vs 8.4% across Maine. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.6% across Maine. Diabetes is also above the state: 13.6%, vs 11.2% across Maine. In all, Skowhegan runs above Maine on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Skowhegan
56.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.8% across Maine. Among those 65 and older, 19.6% have lost all their teeth (Maine 14.8%). Checkups ↓
Skowhegan is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Skowhegan is healthier than 17%. Against the 5,601 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 44%. 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 Skowhegan’s likely range; Skowhegan’s figures come from ZIP code 04976, 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 Skowhegan’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Skowhegan is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #128 of 143 in Maine. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 43% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Skowhegan’s median household income is $49,485; among the 5,601 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 44%, 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.
22% of Skowhegan adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Out of every 100 Skowhegan adults…
Skowhegan runs above ME on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Skowhegan adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Care in and near Skowhegan
1 hospital in Skowhegan, 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 Skowhegan; ≈ 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.
54 miles of trails across 21 parks and preserves
How Skowhegan adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Skowhegan runs above Maine.
1 in 3 Skowhegan 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.
Skowhegan and the towns around it
Skowhegan’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skowhegan · Cornville | C− | 37.1% | 13.6% | 19.5% | ZIP 04976 |
| Canaan | C | 36.2% | 11.7% | 18.6% | ZIP 04924 |
| Skowhegan | — | — | — | — | |
| Norridgewock | D | 39.1% | 14.9% | 22% | ZIP 04957 |
| Madison | D | 37.8% | 13.9% | 20.4% | ZIP 04950 |
| Fairfield | C− | 37.4% | 12.7% | 20.2% | ZIP codes |
| Norridgewock | — | — | — | — |
Skowhegan and Cornville share one ZIP estimate, so they share a row. Skowhegan and Norridgewock: 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 Skowhegan adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Skowhegan
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Skowhegan is better than Maine on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Skowhegan’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Skowhegan | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.5%21.1–26.3 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.4–19.1 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%18.1–22.3 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%32.4–41.8 | 32.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.6%12.1–15.3 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%35.6–41.9 | 35.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%37.1–43.6 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.4%32.7–38.2 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.8%12.4–15.3 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%9–10.7 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%8.2–10 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.3%10.2–12.6 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.6%16.6–23 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.5%17.2–22.1 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.2%24.9–32 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.7–16.1 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2%34.1–42.6 | 32.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.8–10.6 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.8%80.2–85.1 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%53–59.4 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.4–87.5 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%73.3–78.6 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.6%64–71.1 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%71.4–81.8 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.3%26.2–32.6 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%30.8–38.1 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%20.6–26.3 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.9%12.8–16.9 | 10.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.6%10.9–14.3 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%9.3–12 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.9–11.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22%19.4–24.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38%34.6–41.7 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.8%16–19.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.5%16.6–20.6 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.9–10.9 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.5–6.6 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.7–12 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 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 Skowhegan
Is Skowhegan a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Skowhegan is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #128 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Skowhegan?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults (the figure for ZIP code 04976, which Skowhegan shares with Cornville) have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 41.8%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Skowhegan?
Redington Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, 2.3 miles in a straight line from Skowhegan’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Skowhegan have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–10.6%), 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 Skowhegan more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+. The figures are ZIP code 04976’s, shared with Cornville.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Skowhegan.
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.