Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Heath is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns
Heath differs from Ohio on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Heath. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Heath
Heath is short on primary care and mental health care
Heath’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 ↓
Cancer runs high in Heath
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 8.7% across Ohio. Conditions ↓
Fewer Heath adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Ohio. 1 in 9 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 Heath’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Heath’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Heath is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns, #348 of 993 in Ohio. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 65% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 33%).
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). Heath’s median household income is $71,917; among the 10,667 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 63%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Heath
No hospital or community health center in Heath 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 Heath; ≈ 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 Heath adults…
Heath runs above OH on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.7% of Heath adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
5.5 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Heath adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Heath adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
1 in 3 Heath 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.
Heath and the towns around it
Heath’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heath | B− | 37.1% | 13.2% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Newark | C− | 39.9% | 14% | 18.6% | CDC place |
| Union Township | B− | 36.9% | 13.1% | 15.1% | ZIP codes |
| Licking Township | B− | 37.1% | 13.2% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| Madison Township | C+ | 38.7% | 13.6% | 17% | ZIP codes |
| Franklin Township | B− | 37.4% | 13.2% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Heath adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Heath
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Heath is better than Ohio on 4 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Heath’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Heath | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.7%15.4–20.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.2–15.7 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15–18.9 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%31.4–43.6 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.5–15.1 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%33.5–41.1 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%34.5–42.4 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.6%29.5–36 | 29.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.4 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.5–11.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.8–8.4 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.9%13.2–18.9 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%12.7–17.3 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.4%20.6–28.6 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.5–17.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.4%31.3–41.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.9%5.5–8.3 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%77–83.2 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.1%61.8–68.3 | 62.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%85.3–88.7 | 86.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.7–82.8 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%61.1–70.2 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69.7–82.5 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.7–29.7 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34%29.2–39.1 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.9%16.8–23.4 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.8%8.9–12.9 | 14.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.1%7.6–10.7 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.6–7.6 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.3%5.5–7.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.7%7.1–10.4 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.4%26.7–34.5 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.2%12.3–16.2 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.9–15.2 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%6.9–8.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 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 Heath
Is Heath a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Heath is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #348 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 63%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Heath?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 43.6%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Heath?
Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Heath’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Heath have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–8.3%), 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 Heath 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 Heath.
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.