Photo: JonRidinger · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Kent is healthier than 96%
Kent differs from Ohio on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kent. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kent
Kent is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Kent is healthier than 57%. Against the 3,329 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 96%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Kent
1 in 7 adults lack reliable transportation (14%), vs 7.7% across Ohio. Food insecurity (21.4% vs 14.1%) and utility shut-off threats (11.7% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 19.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Kent
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.9%), vs 17.5% across Ohio. Loneliness is above the state too: 40.9%, vs 35% across Ohio. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in Kent
Kent runs below Ohio on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5% vs 8.7%), diabetes (8.4% vs 13.2%) and arthritis (19.3% vs 29.8%). A young population is part of it: only 11% 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 Kent’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind Kent’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kent is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, #305 of 993 in Ohio. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 95% of U.S. towns); 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). Kent’s median household income is $42,964; among the 3,329 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 96%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.6% of Kent adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
How Kent adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Kent runs above Ohio.
2 in 5 Kent 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.
Out of every 100 Kent adults…
Kent runs below OH on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Kent residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Ohio. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Kent
1 community health center in Kent, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Kent; ≈ 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.
9.5 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kent adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Kent and the towns around it
Kent’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | B | 33% | 8.4% | 14% | CDC place |
| Franklin Township | B | 33.5% | 11.1% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Brimfield Township | B | 33.4% | 11.2% | 14.4% | ZIP codes |
| Stow | A− | 33.7% | 10.9% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Tallmadge | B+ | 34.4% | 12.4% | 12.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kent adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kent
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kent is better than Ohio on 8 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Kent’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kent | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20%17.5–23 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.1–14.3 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.9%21.3–26.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33%27.1–38.9 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.7%23.6–29.9 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27.4%24.4–30.5 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.3%17.2–21.5 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.8–13.8 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5%4.5–5.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.5%15.4–21.8 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%12–16.3 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.2%22.1–30.6 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.1–20.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%35.7–46.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%7–10.2 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.7%71.7–79.2 | 79.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.4%51.7–58.8 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 73.5%70.5–76.3 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.9%63.4–68.2 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.8%60.2–69 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%65.3–79.1 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.4%25.5–33.2 | 25.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 40.9%35.8–46.2 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.3%18.2–24.7 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.4%18.2–24.6 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.5%12.3–16.8 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.7%10.1–13.4 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14%12.1–15.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.6%16.5–22.7 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.8%28.6–37.1 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%8.7–11.5 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.7%18.2–23.3 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10.1–13.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.7 | 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 Kent
Is Kent a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kent is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: B for health, #305 of 993 in Ohio. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kent?
CDC estimates 33% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.1% and 38.9%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kent?
University Hospitals Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, 6.5 miles in a straight line from Kent’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kent have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–10.2%), 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 Kent more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kent.
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.