Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Independence is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Independence differs from Ohio on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Independence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Independence
Independence is older than Ohio, yet healthier on chronic conditions
Independence runs below Ohio on five chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.7% vs 8%), diabetes (9.7% vs 13.2%) and obesity (28.2% vs 37.1%). That’s despite an older population: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Ohio 18%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Independence doesn’t win on
19.9% of adults binge drink, vs 16.6% across Ohio, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Independence is an active town
Only 16.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.9% across Ohio. Habits ↓
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 Independence’s likely range.
What’s behind Independence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #29 of 993 in Ohio. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 95% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 84%.
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). Independence’s median household income is $115,733; among the 6,349 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($87K–$145K), it’s healthier than 93%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Independence adults…
Independence runs below OH on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Independence is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Ohio. Cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Independence as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
2.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Independence
No hospital or community health center in Independence 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 Independence; ≈ 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 Independence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Independence adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Independence does better than Ohio.
1 in 3 Independence 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.
4.4% of Independence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Independence and the towns around it
Independence’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | A | 28.2% | 9.7% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| Valley View | A | 29.5% | 10.8% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| Cuyahoga Heights | — | — | — | — | |
| Brooklyn Heights | A− | 30.3% | 10.3% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Seven Hills | A− | 29.6% | 11.3% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Brecksville | A | 27.7% | 9.8% | 9.6% | CDC place |
Cuyahoga Heights: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Independence adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Independence
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Independence is better than Ohio on 22 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Independence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Independence | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.7%10.8–14.9 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.9%9.4–12.5 | 13.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.5–14.9 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.2%24.8–31.8 | 37.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.4–11 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.6%30.7–36.6 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.7%36.9–42.7 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.9–31 | 29.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.6%9.7–11.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.2–6.8 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.7%4.7–6.9 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.5–3.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8%6.6–9.6 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%8–12.3 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.7%14–19.7 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.9%17.4–22.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4%29.3–35.6 | 37.9% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.4%3.5–5.5 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%78.2–82.9 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.4%72–76.6 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.7%89.1–92 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%76.9–81.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.6%68.4–74.6 | 65.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.4%74.4–83.6 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.7%21.2–26.4 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%28.7–36.9 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.4%14.6–20.2 | 21.3% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.4%5–8 | 14.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.8%4.6–7 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.2%3.4–5 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.1%3.4–4.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.4%3.3–5.6 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.3%20.4–26.6 | 29.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.4%8.7–12.3 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.4%8.1–11 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.6–3.4 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.4%4.6–6.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2–2.8 | 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 Independence
Is Independence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #29 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Independence?
CDC estimates 28.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.8% and 31.8%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Independence?
Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Independence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Independence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.5–5.5%), 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 Independence 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 Independence.
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.