Photo: Blervis · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Dayton as a whole is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Dayton differs from Ohio on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dayton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dayton
Making ends meet is harder in Dayton
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (27.6%), about twice the Ohio rate. Utility shut-off threats (17% vs 8.3%) and no reliable transportation (15% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 27.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dayton is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dayton is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Dayton
50.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.9% across Ohio. Among those 65 and older, 27% have lost all their teeth (Ohio 15.3%). Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Dayton
Grades next door run from Kettering (B+) to Fort McKinley (D−). Dayton is a D−. Around town ↓
Dayton has five hospitals within its borders
5 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Dayton. Kettering Health Dayton is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare. 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 Dayton’s likely range.
What’s behind Dayton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dayton is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #956 of 993 in Ohio. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 17% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Dayton’s median household income is $45,247; among the 4,095 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Dayton compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 32% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 136,688 residents, Dayton 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.
27.5% of Dayton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dayton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Care in and near Dayton
5 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Dayton.
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 Dayton; ≈ 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).
Dayton and the towns around it
Dayton’s Health Grade ranks 10th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | D− | 42.9% | 17.6% | 20.5% | CDC place |
| Harrison Township | D | 41.2% | 17.9% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
| Riverside | C− | 37% | 13.7% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Jefferson Township | D | 41.4% | 18.5% | 19.1% | ZIP codes |
| Trotwood | D | 45.3% | 21.5% | 18.5% | CDC place |
| Shiloh | D | 43.5% | 20.3% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Huber Heights | B− | 35.6% | 13.1% | 15% | CDC place |
| Fort McKinley | D− | 46.6% | 20.8% | 19.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Dayton adults…
Dayton runs below OH on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
44 miles of trails across 59 parks and preserves
How Dayton adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Dayton runs above Ohio.
2 in 5 Dayton 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 Dayton adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dayton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dayton is better than Ohio on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Dayton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dayton | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.4%25.9–31.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.9–18.3 | 13.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.6%19.6–23.8 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.9%38–48 | 37.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.8–19.4 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.6%36.6–42.8 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32%29–35.1 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.9–31 | 29.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.6–14.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%7–8.4 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.2%9.3–11.2 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.5–5.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27%23.3–31 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.5%18.3–22.8 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.4%32.8–40.3 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.3–17.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.8%40.6–49 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%9.8–12.6 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.9–82.6 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.4%47.2–53.7 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.6%79.7–83.5 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.8–79.3 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.4%57.2–65.5 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.8%66.3–78.6 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.2%24.1–30.4 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40%35.3–45 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.7%21.5–28.3 | 21.3% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.6%24.8–30.6 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21%18.8–23.5 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17%15.3–19 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15%13.5–16.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.5%25–30.3 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37%33.6–40.6 | 29.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.5%16.7–20.4 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.8%17.1–20.7 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.2%7.6–8.8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.3%11.2–13.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.9–6.9 | 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 Dayton
Is Dayton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dayton is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #956 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dayton?
CDC estimates 42.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 38% and 48%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dayton?
Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Dayton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dayton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–12.6%), 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 Dayton 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 Dayton.
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.