Kenyon College · Photo: .curt. · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Gambier is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Gambier differs from Ohio on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gambier. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gambier
Binge drinking is the habit Gambier doesn’t win on
22.3% of adults binge drink, vs 16.6% across Ohio, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Mental distress runs high in Gambier
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (22.8%), vs 17.5% across Ohio. Loneliness is above the state too: 44.1%, vs 35% across Ohio. Mind & connection ↓
Gambier is short on primary care and mental health care
Gambier’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Gambier
Gambier runs below Ohio on nine chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (3.9% vs 13.2%), stroke (1.2% vs 3.7%) and heart disease (2.4% vs 7.1%). A young population is part of it: only 9% 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 Gambier’s likely range.
What’s behind Gambier’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gambier is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Gambier’s median household income is $93,365; among the 9,532 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($70K–$117K), it’s healthier than 91%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Gambier adults…
Gambier runs below OH on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of Gambier 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.
How Gambier adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Gambier runs above Ohio.
4 in 10 Gambier 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.
Care in and near Gambier
No hospital or community health center in Gambier 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 Gambier; ≈ 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 Gambier 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.
6.2% of Gambier adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Gambier and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gambier | A | 25.6% | 3.9% | 7.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gambier adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gambier
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gambier is better than Ohio on 18 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Gambier’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gambier | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.3%8.7–15.2 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.2%6.6–9.9 | 13.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.8%18–26.6 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.6%20–31.4 | 37.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 3.9%3.4–4.5 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 15.8%13.6–18 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 19.3%16.8–21.9 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 10.6%9.3–12 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.7–13 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.1%2.7–3.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3%2.5–3.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.2%1–1.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.6–12.9 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.2%5–9.5 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.2%13.7–23.3 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.3%18.7–26.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.1%27–37.5 | 37.9% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%4.7–10.5 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.6%65.9–75 | 79.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.1%62.6–69.4 | 62.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 71.6%65.2–77.1 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 54.6%52.3–57.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.1%65.5–74.4 | 65.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%69.2–82.2 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29%24.4–33.4 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 44.1%37.5–50.5 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.8%17.2–26.6 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.6%7.6–16.3 | 14.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.5%6–11 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%3.8–6.4 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%6.1–11.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.2%3.9–8.9 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.4%18.8–30.2 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 4.7%4–5.7 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.5%12.7–22.6 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.4–3.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%5.3–10 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.5%1.2–1.7 | 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 Gambier
Is Gambier a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gambier is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 91%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gambier?
CDC estimates 25.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 20% and 31.4%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gambier?
Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, 3.4 miles in a straight line from Gambier’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gambier have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–10.5%), 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 Gambier more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gambier.
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.