Photo: SilentMatt Psychedelic · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Cortland is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns
Cortland differs from Ohio on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cortland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cortland
Cortland is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Cortland is healthier than 68%. Against the 10,637 towns with similar household incomes ($54K–$89K), it’s healthier than 84%. Health Grade ↓
Cortland is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its B+ tops all four graded neighbors. The closest is Fowler Township (C+). Around town ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Cortland
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 8.7% across Ohio. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (34.4%), vs 29.8% across Ohio. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Ohio 18%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Cortland keeps up with checkups
It beats Ohio on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (68.3% vs 62.9%) and cholesterol checks (89.3% vs 86.1%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Cortland adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Ohio. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Cortland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Cortland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cortland is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #214 of 993 in Ohio. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 79% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). Cortland’s median household income is $71,563; among the 10,637 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$89K), it’s healthier than 84%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Cortland and the towns around it
Cortland has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland | B+ | 34.8% | 12.8% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Bazetta Township | C+ | 37.3% | 14.4% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
| Fowler Township | C+ | 37% | 14.4% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Johnston Township | C− | 38.9% | 15.9% | 19% | ZIP codes |
| Mecca Township | C | 37.5% | 14.4% | 16.9% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Cortland adults…
Cortland runs below OH on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Cortland is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Ohio. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Cortland as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cortland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7% of Cortland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Care in and near Cortland
No hospital or community health center in Cortland itself. These are the nearest.
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 Cortland; ≈ 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.
3.4 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Cortland adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
3 in 10 Cortland 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cortland adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cortland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cortland is better than Ohio on 11 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Cortland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cortland | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.8%13.1–18.8 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%10.9–14.8 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.4–17.5 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%29.3–40 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11–14.7 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.3%33.5–40.9 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.4%35.4–43.1 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.4%31.1–37.6 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.1–12.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.6–8.7 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.2–9.1 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.1–4.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.3%10.1–14.7 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%10–15.9 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.4%20–29 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.7–18 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7%30.2–39.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4.4–7.4 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%79–84.5 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.3%65.4–71.3 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.3%87.4–91 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.6%80–84.8 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.8%67.9–75.6 | 65.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.3%67.4–80.6 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.6–27 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.3%25.4–35.1 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.8%15.6–22.2 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.9%6.9–11.1 | 14.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%5.9–9 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.3–6.3 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.2%4.3–6.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7%5.3–8.9 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.8%22.8–30.9 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%10.7–15.5 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.3%9.6–13.3 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.3–4.5 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%5.7–8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.6–3.7 | 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 Cortland
Is Cortland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cortland is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #214 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cortland?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.3% and 40%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cortland?
MH St. Joseph Warren Hospital in Warren, 7.6 miles in a straight line from Cortland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cortland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.4–7.4%), 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 Cortland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cortland.
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.