Photo: Paul Wasneski · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Columbus is healthier than 64%
Columbus differs from Ohio on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus
Columbus is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Columbus is healthier than 47%. Against the 10,099 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 64%. Health Grade ↓
Loneliness runs high in Columbus
2 in 5 adults feel lonely (40.3%), vs 35% across Ohio. Lack of emotional support is above the state too: 24.2%, vs 21.3% across Ohio. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Columbus
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20%), vs 14.1% across Ohio. Utility shut-off threats (11.9% vs 8.3%) and no reliable transportation (11% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 17.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Columbus has five hospitals within its borders
5 hospitals and 7 community health centers are inside Columbus. Riverside Methodist Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Columbus
Columbus runs below Ohio on four chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.7% vs 8.7%), heart disease (5.3% vs 7.1%) and arthritis (22.8% 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 Columbus’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind Columbus’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #396 of 993 in Ohio. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 64% 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). Columbus’ median household income is $66,082; among the 10,099 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Columbus compares well: high blood pressure, 31.8% (U.S. 34.4%); high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.6% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 22.8% (U.S. 25.3%).
At 938,396 residents, Columbus is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
How Columbus adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Columbus runs above Ohio.
2 in 5 Columbus 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.4% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Care in and near Columbus
5 hospitals and 7 community health centers in Columbus.
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 Columbus; ≈ 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 Columbus adults…
Columbus runs below OH on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Columbus residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Ohio. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
138 miles of trails across 290 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Columbus and the towns around it
Columbus’s Health Grade ranks 9th of 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | B− | 34.7% | 11.8% | 15.2% | CDC place |
| Hamilton Township | C− | 37.7% | 13.9% | 19.4% | ZIP codes |
| Norwich Township | A | 29.7% | 9.1% | 10.9% | ZIP codes |
| Jackson Township | B | 32.7% | 11.2% | 14.8% | ZIP codes |
| Madison Township | B− | 34.9% | 12.7% | 15.3% | ZIP codes |
| Mifflin Township | B+ | 32.3% | 11.3% | 12.4% | ZIP codes |
| Plain Township | A+ | 28% | 8.5% | 9% | ZIP codes |
| Washington Township | A+ | 27.6% | 9.3% | 9% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbus adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbus
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbus is better than Ohio on 8 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Columbus’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbus | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%18.5–22 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%12–14.5 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%18–21.5 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.7%31.3–37.9 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.7–12.9 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.8%29.5–34 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%29.3–33.9 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 22.8%21–24.6 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.5–12.8 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.3–6.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.6%6–7.1 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.7%14.4–19.2 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%13.7–16.7 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.5%23.1–27.9 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%16–20.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.7%35.5–41.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%76–80.8 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.9%58.3–63.4 | 62.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%81–84.3 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.9%71.5–76.1 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.5%59.1–65.7 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%72.6–81.9 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%24.2–29.2 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.3%36.6–44.2 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%21.4–27.2 | 21.3% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20%18–22.1 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.4%13.7–17.2 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.9%10.6–13.2 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11%9.9–12.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.4%15.7–19.2 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.7%25.4–30.1 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.1%11–13.3 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14.5–17.3 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5.1–5.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8.1–9.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.7–4.3 | 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 Columbus
Is Columbus a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #396 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 Columbus?
CDC estimates 34.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.3% and 37.9%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbus?
Grant Medical Center in Columbus, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Columbus’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbus have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–10.9%), 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 Columbus 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 Columbus.
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.