Photo: OZinOH on Flickr · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Jefferson is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Jefferson trails Ohio on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jefferson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jefferson
Cancer and COPD run high in Jefferson
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.7%), vs 8.7% across Ohio. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 8% across Ohio. In all, Jefferson runs above Ohio on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Ohio 18%), and cancer and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Jefferson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Jefferson is healthier than 20%. Against the 6,890 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 40%. Health Grade ↓
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 Jefferson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Jefferson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns, #723 of 993 in Ohio. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 37% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Jefferson’s median household income is $53,333; among the 6,890 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Jefferson adults…
Jefferson runs above OH on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Jefferson is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Ohio. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Jefferson as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Jefferson
No hospital or community health center in Jefferson 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 Jefferson; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Jefferson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Jefferson adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
4 in 10 Jefferson 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.
10.9% of Jefferson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Jefferson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | C− | 42.4% | 14.3% | 16.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jefferson adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jefferson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jefferson is better than Ohio on 0 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Jefferson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jefferson | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.1%17.9–24.4 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.4–17.7 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.4–21 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.4%35.5–49.4 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.4–16.4 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%36.1–43.8 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%35.1–43.1 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.1%30.8–37.4 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.7 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.7–11.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.5–9.7 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.1–11.4 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.6–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.9%13.1–19 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%13.9–19.9 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.1%26.2–36.3 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.6–18.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1%30.9–41.9 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%6–10.1 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76–82.6 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.9%55.3–62.6 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.2–88.3 | 86.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.6%79.1–83.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.1%64.7–73.6 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.7%67.7–81.4 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.6%24.1–31.4 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.9%30.1–41.6 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.6%17.8–25.5 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.1%10.2–16.2 | 14.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%8.1–12.1 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.3%6–8.6 | 8.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6–8.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.9%8.4–13.8 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%28.7–37.9 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.4%13.7–19.1 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%12.9–17.2 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.3–9.5 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.4–6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.7–10.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.4–4.8 | 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 Jefferson
Is Jefferson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #723 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jefferson?
CDC estimates 42.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 49.4%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jefferson?
Ashtabula County Medical Center in Ashtabula, 9.9 miles in a straight line from Jefferson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jefferson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–10.1%), 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 Jefferson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Jefferson.
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.