Photo: EEJCC · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Cincinnati is healthier than 61%
Cincinnati differs from Ohio on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cincinnati. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cincinnati
Cincinnati is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Cincinnati is healthier than 31%. Against the 6,758 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 61%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Cincinnati
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (22.7%), vs 14.1% across Ohio. Utility shut-off threats (14.3% vs 8.3%) and no reliable transportation (12.5% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 21.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cincinnati has five hospitals within its borders
5 hospitals and 7 community health centers are inside Cincinnati. Christ Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Dental care lags in Cincinnati
56.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.9% across Ohio. Among those 65 and older, 20.1% have lost all their teeth (Ohio 15.3%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Cincinnati
Cincinnati runs below Ohio on cancer (5.9% vs 8.7%) and arthritis (25.2% vs 29.8%). A young population is part of it: only 14% 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 Cincinnati’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Cincinnati’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cincinnati is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns, #572 of 993 in Ohio. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 68% of U.S. towns); mental 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). Cincinnati’s median household income is $52,909; among the 6,758 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 61%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Cincinnati compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.6% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 314,367 residents, Cincinnati is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.8% of Cincinnati adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Care in and near Cincinnati
5 hospitals and 7 community health centers in Cincinnati.
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 Cincinnati; ≈ 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 Cincinnati adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Out of every 100 Cincinnati adults…
Cincinnati runs below OH on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
132 miles of trails across 184 parks and preserves
How Cincinnati adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Cincinnati runs above Ohio.
4 in 10 Cincinnati 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.
Cincinnati and the towns around it
Cincinnati’s Health Grade ranks 9th of 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | C | 38.3% | 14.1% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Anderson Township | A− | 31.8% | 11% | 11.8% | ZIP codes |
| Delhi Township | B | 34.2% | 12.6% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Columbia Township | A− | 33.6% | 12% | 11.4% | ZIP codes |
| Springfield Township | C | 39% | 16.5% | 15.7% | ZIP codes |
| Green Township | B+ | 33.4% | 12.4% | 13.8% | ZIP codes |
| Miami Township | B+ | 32.9% | 12.2% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Finneytown | B | 36% | 14.3% | 13.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cincinnati adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cincinnati
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cincinnati is better than Ohio on 4 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Cincinnati’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cincinnati | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%20–24.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.7–14.4 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.9–21.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.3%34.3–42.6 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.1%12.7–15.6 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36%33.3–38.8 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%29–34.4 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.2%23.1–27.5 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.3%11–13.7 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.1%17.3–23.1 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.4–17.9 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.6%24.7–30.6 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.7–19.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.4%37.6–45.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%8.4–10.8 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.6%75.9–81.3 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.3%53.4–59.1 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.5%80.6–84.2 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%74.3–78.8 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.2%61.4–68.9 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%73.1–83.2 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.3%23.5–29.3 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.9%31.6–40.3 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.7%20.6–26.9 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.7%20.3–25.1 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.8%15.8–19.9 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.3%12.7–15.9 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%11.3–13.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.8%19.8–23.9 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.8%27–32.7 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%12.5–15.3 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%14.5–17.5 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%6.1–7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%9.2–11 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 3.8% | 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 Ohio figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Cincinnati
Is Cincinnati a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cincinnati is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #572 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 Cincinnati?
CDC estimates 38.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.3% and 42.6%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cincinnati?
University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Cincinnati’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cincinnati have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–10.8%), 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 Cincinnati more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cincinnati.
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.