Photo: Public domain · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Newark is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns
Newark trails Ohio on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Newark. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Newark
Newark is short on primary care and mental health care
Newark’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 ↓
Smoking is more common in Newark
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.6%), vs 15.4% across Ohio. Habits ↓
COPD runs high in Newark
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 8% 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 Newark’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Newark’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns, #688 of 993 in Ohio. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 38% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Newark’s median household income is $61,670; among the 9,319 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Care in and near Newark
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Newark, 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 Newark; ≈ 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.
5.1 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Newark adults…
Newark runs above OH on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Newark adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Newark adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
1 in 3 Newark 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.
14.3% of Newark adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Newark and the towns around it
Newark’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | C− | 39.9% | 14% | 18.6% | CDC place |
| Newark Township | C | 39.6% | 14% | 18.3% | ZIP 43055 |
| Granville Township | A | 32.4% | 10% | 10.6% | ZIP codes |
| Newton Township | C | 39.6% | 14% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
| Madison Township | C+ | 38.7% | 13.6% | 17% | ZIP codes |
| Heath | B− | 37.1% | 13.2% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Granville | A | 27.9% | 7.2% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| Union Township | B− | 36.9% | 13.1% | 15.1% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Newark adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Newark
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Newark is better than Ohio on 0 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Newark’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Newark | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%18.6–23.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.6–17 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%17.1–21.2 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.9%34–46.3 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.3–15.8 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37%33.5–40.8 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.2%33.6–41.2 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.6%28.7–34.8 | 29.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.3–13 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–10 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.8%14–19.8 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.6%16.4–21 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.4%23.8–31.4 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.7–18.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.1%32.8–43.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.5–10 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%75.2–81.7 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.7%57.3–63.9 | 62.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%82.1–85.6 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.7–80.8 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%58.5–67.8 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%68.8–81.8 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.9%24.4–31.7 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%30.5–40.6 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21%17.9–24.4 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.6%13.5–17.9 | 14.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.4–13.8 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%8–10.4 | 8.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.3%12.4–16.2 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.8%29.2–36.7 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%13.6–17.2 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%14.4–17.7 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.5–10.5 | 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 Newark
Is Newark a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #688 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Newark?
CDC estimates 39.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 34% and 46.3%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Newark?
Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Newark’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Newark have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10%), 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 Newark 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 Newark.
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.