Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 2.5On CDC estimates, Lancaster is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns
Lancaster trails Ohio on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lancaster. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lancaster
Every town around Lancaster scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Lancaster’s C−, from Hocking Township (C+) to Greenfield Township (B−). Around town ↓
COPD and heart disease run high in Lancaster
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 8% across Ohio. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.2%), vs 7.1% across Ohio. 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 Lancaster’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Lancaster’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lancaster is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #651 of 993 in Ohio. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 40% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Lancaster’s median household income is $59,133; among the 8,696 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 39%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Lancaster and the towns around it
Lancaster’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | C− | 37.5% | 13.8% | 18% | CDC place |
| Hocking Township | C+ | 36.7% | 13.3% | 17.1% | ZIP codes |
| Pleasant Township | C+ | 36.2% | 12.8% | 16.5% | ZIP codes |
| Greenfield Township | B− | 35.5% | 12.7% | 15.1% | ZIP codes |
| Berne Township | C+ | 36.1% | 13.3% | 16.8% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Lancaster adults…
Lancaster runs above OH on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lancaster
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lancaster, 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 Lancaster; ≈ 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.
8.3 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lancaster adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Lancaster adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
1 in 3 Lancaster 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.
13.7% of Lancaster adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lancaster adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lancaster
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lancaster is better than Ohio on 0 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Lancaster’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lancaster | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.4%19–24 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.8–17.2 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.6–20.6 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.5%31.2–43.9 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8%12.1–15.6 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.8%35.1–42.6 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%34.8–42.7 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.3%30.2–36.5 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.7–10.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.4–9 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.8–10.8 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.4%14.5–20.8 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18%15.9–20.3 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.9%24.9–33.1 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.9–18.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.3%34.6–46.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.4–10 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%76.1–82.2 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.4%55.9–63 | 62.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%83–86.4 | 86.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%76–80.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%58.6–68.2 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.7%61.5–77.1 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.8%24.3–31.5 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.5%28.5–38.4 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%17.7–24.2 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.9%12.8–17.1 | 14.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.3%9.7–13 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.4–9.8 | 8.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.7%11.9–15.9 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.8%29–36.7 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.8–17.5 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%14.1–17.4 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.2–8.9 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%5–5.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Lancaster
Is Lancaster a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lancaster is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #651 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 39%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lancaster?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.2% and 43.9%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lancaster?
Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, 1.6 miles in a straight line from Lancaster’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lancaster have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–10%), 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster.
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.