Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Cleveland as a whole is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Cleveland differs from Ohio on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cleveland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cleveland
Making ends meet is harder in Cleveland
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (32.4%), more than twice the Ohio rate. Utility shut-off threats (19.7% vs 8.3%) and no reliable transportation (16.3% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 31.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cleveland is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Cleveland is healthier than 5%. Against the 2,607 towns with similar household incomes ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 28%. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Cleveland
50.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.9% across Ohio. Among those 65 and older, 27.1% have lost all their teeth (Ohio 15.3%). Checkups ↓
Cleveland is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Cleveland is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Cleveland has eight hospitals within its borders
8 hospitals and 6 community health centers are inside Cleveland. Fairview Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Cleveland’s likely range.
What’s behind Cleveland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cleveland is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, #942 of 993 in Ohio. All seven of Cleveland’s estimates fall in the lowest 14% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 17.7% of adults, against 13.2% across Ohio and 12% nationally.
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). Cleveland’s median household income is $40,801; among the 2,607 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 28%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Cleveland compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 363,608 residents, Cleveland 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.
31.7% of Cleveland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cleveland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Care in and near Cleveland
8 hospitals and 6 community health centers in Cleveland.
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 Cleveland; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Cleveland adults…
Cleveland runs below OH on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
54 miles of trails across 143 parks and preserves
How Cleveland adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Cleveland runs above Ohio.
2 in 5 Cleveland 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.
Cleveland and the towns around it
Cleveland’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | D | 42.2% | 17.7% | 21.5% | CDC place |
| Brook Park | B− | 32.8% | 12.1% | 16.4% | CDC place |
| Shaker Heights | A | 31.1% | 11% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| East Cleveland | D− | 49.8% | 26.7% | 24.9% | CDC place |
| Cuyahoga Heights | — | — | — | — | |
| Fairview Park | A | 30.7% | 10.2% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Brooklyn | B | 33.1% | 12.3% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Lakewood | A | 30.6% | 8.3% | 12% | CDC place |
Cuyahoga Heights: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cleveland adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cleveland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cleveland is better than Ohio on 1 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Cleveland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cleveland | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.4%27.1–31.9 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.4–18.6 | 13.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.8–21.5 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.2%38.3–46.1 | 37.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.7%16.1–19.4 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.3%39.8–45 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%34.4–39.8 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.7%26.6–31 | 29.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13%11.7–14.4 | 11.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.4–6.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.2–8.6 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%9.5–11.3 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%5–5.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.1%23.7–30.7 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.5%19.5–23.7 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.8%30.8–37 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%14.1–18.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.5%41–48 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.4%11.9–15 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%76.5–81.4 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.4%47.6–53.2 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%81.5–84.8 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%75.4–79.7 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.5%56.8–64 | 65.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%69.9–79.9 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%22.3–27.4 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 41.3%37.2–45.4 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%24.1–30.5 | 21.3% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 32.4%29.6–35.3 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.9%21.5–26.4 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.7%17.7–21.7 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.3%14.7–18 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.7%29.1–34.4 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%34.8–40.9 | 29.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.4%18.7–22.3 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%16.7–20 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.5%8.8–10.2 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.9%11.8–14 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.2%6.7–7.8 | 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 Cleveland
Is Cleveland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cleveland is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health, #942 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 28%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cleveland?
CDC estimates 42.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.3% and 46.1%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cleveland?
Metrohealth System in Cleveland, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Cleveland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cleveland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.9–15%), 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 Cleveland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cleveland.
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.