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Palmer Township hall, Miller CityPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
C+Health Grade
Health in Palmer Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Palmer Township is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns

Palmer Township beats Ohio on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 45831, 45856, 45875, 45864. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Palmer Township

Palmer Township is short on primary care and mental health care

Palmer Township’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 ↓

Fewer Palmer Township adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, utility bills and getting around all run below Ohio. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

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 Palmer Township’s likely range; Palmer Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 45831, 45856, 45875, 45864, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Palmer Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palmer Township is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 63% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 4%).

BSelf-rated health17.9% · OH 19.4% · U.S. 19.4%
B−Physical distress14% · OH 13.9% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress17.2% · OH 17.5% · U.S. 15.9%
D−Obesity44.5% · OH 37.1% · U.S. 32.9%
C+Diabetes12.5% · OH 13.2% · U.S. 12%
B−Smoking15.2% smoke · OH 15.4% · U.S. 11.8%
B−Exercise26.1% · OH 26.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 42%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $62K–$103K (10,596)Healthier than 35%

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). Palmer Township’s median household income is $82,194; among the 10,596 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$103K), it’s healthier than 35%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Palmer Township compares well: worried about having enough food, 11.5% (U.S. 15%); lack reliable transportation, 6.5% (U.S. 7.9%).

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Palmer Township could be anywhere from C− to B+. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 45831,45856,45875,45864), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Palmer Township

No hospital or community health center in Palmer Township itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERMercy Health - Defiance HospitalDefiance · 14.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyPromedica Defiance Regional Hospital★★★★★ · 16.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHealth Partners of Western OhioDefiance · 16.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
14.2 mi
Mercy Health - Defiance Hospital
Defiance · ★★★★★
ER
16.1 mi
Health Partners of Western Ohio
6 sites · nearest in Defiance
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
16.3 mi
Promedica Defiance Regional Hospital
Defiance · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
19.8 mi
Community Health Services - Napoleon
Napoleon · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
20 mi
Henry County Hospital
Napoleon · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
21.5 mi
Bluffton Hospital
Bluffton · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Palmer Township itself
✓ Dental carePalmer Township is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Palmer Township itself

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 Palmer Township; ≈ 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 needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 9
Palmer Township adults worry about having enough food
11.5% · OH 14.1%
Better than OH
1 in 10
Palmer Township adults worry about keeping their housing
9.7% · OH 11.3%
About the same as OH
1 in 15
Palmer Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.6% · OH 8.3%
Better than OH
1 in 15
Palmer Township adults lack reliable transportation
6.5% · OH 7.7%
Better than OH

8.7% of Palmer Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Palmer Township adults…

Palmer Township runs below OH on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

37 of every 100 Palmer Township adults have high blood pressure
Ohio: 37 in 100 · about the same · likely 32.7–40.4%
Better than OHWorseAbout the sameOhio
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio

Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.

Get no exercise 26.1%OH 26.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.5%OH 37.9%
Binge drink 19%OH 16.6%
Smoke cigarettes 15.2%OH 15.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Palmer Township, betterPalmer Township, worseAbout the sameOhio
Where Palmer Township gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Palmer Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.

80%Yearly checkupOH 80%
65%Dentist visitOH 63%
87%Cholesterol checkOH 86%
68%Colon screeningOH 65%
79%MammogramOH 76%
79%Taking BP medsOH 79%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Palmer Township 8.1% · Ohio 1 in 13 (8%)
Mind & connection

How Palmer Township adults are doing

About the same as Ohio on each measure.

1 in 3Palmer Township adults feel lonely
34.2% · OH 35% · About the same as OH
1 in 5Palmer Township adults lack social or emotional support
20.7% · OH 21.3% · About the same as OH
1 in 4Palmer Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.7% · OH 25.4% · About the same as OH
1 in 6Palmer Township adults are in frequent mental distress
17.2% · OH 17.5% · About the same as OH
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Palmer Township adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Palmer Township and the towns around it

Palmer Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 graded towns around it.

Liberty Township: 44.4%Pleasant Township: 37.8%Greensburg Township: 43.8%Monroe Township: 44.6%Marion Township: 39.7%Van Buren Township: 44.4%Ottawa Township: 43.5%Flatrock Township: 37.8%Highland Township: 36.4%Union Township: 42.5%Perry Township: 43.8%Brown Township: 41.2%Palmer Township: 44.5%Palmer TownshipLiberty TownshipPleasant TownshipGreensburg TownshipMonroe TownshipMercy Health - Defiance Hospital · Defiance · 14.2 mi · 4★ MedicareHPromedica Defiance Regional Hospital · Defiance · 16.3 mi · 5★ MedicareHDefiance Community Health Center · Defiance · 16.1 mi+
Healthier than OHNear OHLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#12 of 13 towns on this map, healthiest first
Pleasant Township37.8%
Greensburg Township43.8%
Liberty Township44.4%
Palmer Township44.5%
Monroe Township44.6%
OH37.1%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Palmer TownshipC+44.5%12.5%15.2%ZIP codes
Liberty TownshipC+44.4%12.8%14.6%ZIP codes
Greensburg TownshipB−43.8%12.1%14.2%ZIP codes
Pleasant TownshipC+37.8%13.5%15.5%ZIP codes
Monroe TownshipC+44.6%12.3%15.6%ZIP 45831

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29.1%

of Palmer Township adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.4%
Thinking or memory13.6%
Hearing6.9%
Errands alone7.6%
Vision4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.4%
Ohio

Every CDC estimate for Palmer Township

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Palmer Township is better than Ohio on 4 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Palmer Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Palmer TownshipOHU.S.vs OH
Overall health
Fair or poor health17.9%15.6–20.519.4%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)14%12.4–15.713.9%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.2%15.3–19.217.5%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity44.5%37.1–51.737.1%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.5%10.9–14.213.2%12%About the same
High blood pressure36.5%32.7–40.437.2%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.4%32.4–40.436.7%37.1%About the same
Arthritis30.4%27.2–33.629.8%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.7%9.5–1211.1%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.4%8.5–10.38.7%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease6.9%6.2–7.87.1%6.4%About the same
COPD7.8%6.8–8.88%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.4%3–3.73.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)11.9%9.8–14.315.3%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.2%13–17.715.4%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work26.1%22.1–30.426.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking19%15.9–22.216.6%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours34.5%29.3–39.937.9%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.1%6.7–9.68%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year79.7%76.4–82.679.9%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year64.7%61.5–67.962.9%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.5%84.7–88.286.1%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)79.4%76.8–81.879.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)68%63.6–72.165.2%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.6%72.1–83.976%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.7%21.3–28.325.4%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely34.2%29–39.735%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support20.7%17.4–24.321.3%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food11.5%9.4–13.714.1%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing9.7%8.1–11.411.3%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.6%5.6–7.78.3%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation6.5%5.6–7.47.7%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)8.7%7.1–10.511.7%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability29.1%25.1–3329.5%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13.4%11.6–15.313.9%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering13.6%12–15.313.9%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6.9%6.1–7.76.8%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.3%3.8–4.84.8%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.6%6.7–8.58.1%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.4%3–3.83.8%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 Palmer Township

Is Palmer Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palmer Township is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 35%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Palmer Township?

CDC estimates 44.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 51.7%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Palmer Township?

Mercy Health - Defiance Hospital in Defiance, 14.2 miles in a straight line from Palmer Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Palmer Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9.6%), 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 Palmer Township 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 Palmer Township.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.