Athens State Hospital Cow Barn · Photo: Ed!(Hall of Fame) · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Athens is healthier than 95%
Athens differs from Ohio on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Athens. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Athens
Making ends meet is harder in Athens
1 in 5 adults lack reliable transportation (18.4%), more than twice the Ohio rate. Food insecurity (27.8% vs 14.1%) and utility shut-off threats (15.2% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 27.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Athens
3 in 10 adults are in frequent mental distress (27.9%), vs 17.5% across Ohio. Depression is above the state too: 35.5%, vs 25.4% across Ohio. Mind & connection ↓
Dental care lags in Athens
47.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.9% across Ohio. Among those 65 and older, 18.7% have lost all their teeth (Ohio 15.3%). Checkups ↓
Athens is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Athens is healthier than 50%. Against the 1,920 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 95%. 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 Ohio figure falls outside Athens’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind Athens’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, #372 of 993 in Ohio. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); 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’ median household income is $38,204; among the 1,920 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 95%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.5% of Athens adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
How Athens adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Athens runs above Ohio.
4 in 10 Athens 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Athens adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Out of every 100 Athens adults…
Athens runs below OH on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 6% of Athens 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
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Athens, 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; ≈ 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.
15 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Athens and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | B− | 34.7% | 6.7% | 15% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Athens adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Athens
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Athens is better than Ohio on 8 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Athens’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Athens | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.7–25.4 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 27.9%25.1–30.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.7%30.1–39.8 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24.7%22–27.5 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 23.2%20.9–25.7 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 14.1%12.6–15.7 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.5–14.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.9%5.3–6.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.8%1.7–1.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.7%15.8–22 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%12.7–17.3 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27%23–31 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21%18–24.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1%36–46.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.4%8.7–12.5 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.6%68.8–76.1 | 79.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.4%44–50.7 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 66%62.5–69.2 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 51%48.4–53.6 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%60–68.8 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%67.4–80 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 35.5%31.8–39.3 | 25.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 44%39–49.2 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19.6–26.5 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.8%24–31.8 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.7%15.2–20.3 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.2%13.1–17.3 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.4%16.1–20.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.5%23.6–31.3 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3%31.1–39.4 | 29.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.6%21.8–27.3 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.2–7.7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14%12.4–15.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3–3.7 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
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
Is Athens a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #372 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?
CDC estimates 34.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 39.8%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Athens?
Ohiohealth O'bleness Hospital in Athens, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Athens’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Athens have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–12.5%), 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 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.
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.