On CDC estimates, Philadelphia is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns
Philadelphia differs from New York on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Philadelphia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Philadelphia
Depression is more common in Philadelphia
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (21.9%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.4%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Philadelphia
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.4%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
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 New York figure falls outside Philadelphia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Philadelphia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Philadelphia is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 83% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 27%).
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). Philadelphia’s median household income is $69,732; among the 10,500 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 67%, about where its income would put it.
How Philadelphia adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Philadelphia runs above New York.
1 in 3 Philadelphia 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Philadelphia adults…
Philadelphia runs below NY on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Philadelphia
No hospital or community health center in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia; ≈ 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 Philadelphia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.9% of Philadelphia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Philadelphia and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | B− | 38.9% | 9.8% | 15.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Philadelphia adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Philadelphia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Philadelphia is better than New York on 2 and worse on 8; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Philadelphia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Philadelphia | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.2%14.5–20.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.4–15.3 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16–20.9 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%33.6–44.1 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.4–11.2 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30%26.8–33.3 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.8%28.6–35.2 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.4%22.8–28.2 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.9%5.8–8.2 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.6–3.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.2%11.7–17.2 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.4%12.4–18.7 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26%21.7–30.8 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.3%17.3–23.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.3%36.8–45.9 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.3–8.5 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%76.1–82.3 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.3%60.2–66.3 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%83.8–88.3 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73%69.9–76 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.3%63.3–71.3 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.6%66.8–79.7 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.9%19–25 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%27.8–37.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.6%19.9–27.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%11.9–18.3 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.5%11–16.2 | 14.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%6.9–9.8 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.4%6.9–9.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.9%11.7–18.4 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.2%24.1–32.7 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.2–14.4 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.3%12–16.9 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4–5.4 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.1–9.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3–4.2 | 3.8% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 New York figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Philadelphia
Is Philadelphia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Philadelphia is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 67%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Philadelphia?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.6% and 44.1%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Philadelphia?
Carthage Area Hospital in Carthage, 12.9 miles in a straight line from Philadelphia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Philadelphia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–8.5%), against 7.9% across New York.
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 Philadelphia more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Philadelphia.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York 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.