Photo: Weatherman1126 · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Oberlin is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns
Oberlin differs from Ohio on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oberlin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oberlin
Oberlin has a five-star hospital
Mercy Allen Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Few Oberlin adults smoke
10.3% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 15.4% across Ohio. Habits ↓
COPD and obesity are less common in Oberlin
Oberlin runs below Ohio on COPD (6.6% vs 8%), obesity (30.8% vs 37.1%) and diabetes (11.2% vs 13.2%). 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 Oberlin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Oberlin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oberlin is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #222 of 993 in Ohio. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 86% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Oberlin’s median household income is $81,308; among the 10,694 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 73%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Oberlin
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Oberlin, 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 Oberlin; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Oberlin adults…
Oberlin runs below OH on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oberlin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Oberlin adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
4 in 10 Oberlin 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.
9.2% of Oberlin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Oberlin and the towns around it
Oberlin has the best Health Grade of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin | B+ | 30.8% | 11.2% | 10.3% | CDC place |
| New Russia Township | B− | 33.7% | 12.9% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Pittsfield Township | B− | 34.4% | 13.2% | 14% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oberlin adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oberlin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oberlin is better than Ohio on 9 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Oberlin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oberlin | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.7%14.3–19.7 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.8–14.3 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%16.7–22.2 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.8%26–36.3 | 37.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.8–12.9 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.5%29.5–35.6 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.9%29.8–36.2 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.3%23.9–28.8 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–13 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%5.9–7.7 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.6%5.6–7.8 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.4%2.9–3.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.6–15.4 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.3%8.6–12.2 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 25.5%21.4–30 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.8–19.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4%32.2–42.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.2–8.4 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.7–81.9 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.1%59.7–66.4 | 62.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.7%78.7–84.5 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%76.8–80.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69%64.6–72.9 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.5%69.6–82.1 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.9%23.5–30.7 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.5%31.2–41.5 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.3%16.9–23.9 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.4%9.9–15.1 | 14.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.4%7.7–11.2 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.7–7.9 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%6.6–9.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.2%7.3–11.1 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.8%26.7–35.4 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.7%10.8–14.9 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%12.5–17.8 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.9 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4–5.4 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.2–10.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 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 Oberlin
Is Oberlin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oberlin is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #222 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Oberlin?
CDC estimates 30.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 26% and 36.3%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oberlin?
Mercy Allen Hospital in Oberlin, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Oberlin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oberlin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–8.4%), 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 Oberlin more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oberlin.
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.