Photo: OHIO fan at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Athens Township is healthier than 89%
Athens Township differs from Ohio on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 45701, 45780. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Athens Township
Athens Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Athens Township is healthier than 49%. Against the 5,269 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 89%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Athens Township
1 in 7 adults lack reliable transportation (14.8%), about twice the Ohio rate. Food insecurity (22.9% vs 14.1%) and utility shut-off threats (12.8% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 22.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Athens Township
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (24.6%), vs 17.5% across Ohio. Depression is above the state too: 33.3%, vs 25.4% across Ohio. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and stroke are less common in Athens Township
Athens Township runs below Ohio on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.5% vs 8.7%), stroke (2.4% vs 3.7%) and arthritis (19.5% vs 29.8%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Ohio 18%). 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 Ohio figure falls outside Athens Township’s likely range; Athens Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 45701, 45780, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind Athens Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens Township is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns, #379 of 993 in Ohio. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 91% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Athens Township’s median household income is $48,696; among the 5,269 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Athens Township compares well: high blood pressure, 29.4% (U.S. 34.4%); high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 28.8% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 19.5% (U.S. 25.3%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.3% of Athens Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
How Athens Township adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Athens Township runs above Ohio.
2 in 5 Athens Township 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.
Out of every 100 Athens Township adults…
Athens Township runs below OH on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Athens Township residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Ohio. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Athens Township
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Athens Township, 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 Athens Township; ≈ 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 Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
20 miles of trails across 24 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Athens Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Athens Township and the towns around it
Athens Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Township | B− | 35.1% | 9% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Dover Township | C | 36.8% | 13.6% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Waterloo Township | B− | 35.1% | 11.8% | 15.5% | ZIP codes |
| Alexander Township | C+ | 36.4% | 10.9% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
| Canaan Township | B− | 35% | 8.6% | 14.9% | ZIP 45701 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Athens Township adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Athens Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Athens Township is better than Ohio on 8 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Athens Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Athens Township | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%18.9–24.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.7–14.7 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.6%22.1–27.1 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.1%30.5–40.2 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9%7.9–10.1 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.4%26.7–32.5 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 28.8%26.1–31.5 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.5%17.7–21.6 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.4%11.1–13.8 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.3–5.2 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.8%6–7.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.1%13.4–19.2 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%12.9–17.1 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.2%22.6–30.1 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20%17.3–23.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.9%34.9–45.2 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%8–11.2 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.9%71.5–78.2 | 79.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.5%49.1–55.8 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 72.4%69.6–75.1 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 62.4%60–64.7 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%62.5–71 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%68.5–80.8 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 33.3%29.8–37 | 25.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 40.7%35.8–45.6 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.7–25.2 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.9%19.8–26.3 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.3%13–17.4 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.8%11.1–14.6 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.8%13–16.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.3%19.3–25.6 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.3%29.6–37.1 | 29.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%8.9–11.5 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.1%18.8–23.4 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%10.8–13.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.2–3.9 | 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 Ohio figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Athens Township
Is Athens Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens Township is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #379 of 993 in Ohio. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Athens Township?
CDC estimates 35.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 40.2%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Athens Township?
Ohiohealth O'bleness Hospital in Athens, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Athens Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Athens Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–11.2%), against 8% across Ohio.
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 Athens Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Athens Township.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio 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.