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Benson east of Lind, ReadingPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
C+Health Grade
Health in Reading · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Reading is healthier than 62%

On every measure CDC estimates, Reading looks like Ohio as a whole.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Reading. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Reading

Health varies a lot right around Reading

Grades next door run from Blue Ash (A) to Lockland (D). Reading is a C+. Around town ↓

Reading is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Reading is healthier than 41%. Against the 9,372 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 62%. Health Grade ↓

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 Reading’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Reading’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Reading is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns, #450 of 993 in Ohio. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 59% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).

B−Self-rated health19.8% · OH 19.4% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.6% · OH 13.9% · U.S. 13%
C−Mental distress18.8% · OH 17.5% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity35.6% · OH 37.1% · U.S. 32.9%
C+Diabetes12.8% · OH 13.2% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking16.9% smoke · OH 15.4% · U.S. 11.8%
B−Exercise25.9% · OH 26.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 41%
Less healthyHealthier
Ohio towns we grade (993)Healthier than 55%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $46K–$77K (9,372)Healthier than 62%

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). Reading’s median household income is $61,866; among the 9,372 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 62%, more than its income alone would suggest.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Reading could be anywhere from C− to B+.

How TownRatings grades health →

Around town

Reading and the towns around it

Reading’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 8 graded towns around it.

Evendale: 28.4%Amberley: 29.3%Lockland: 42.1%Arlington Heights: 40.6%Sycamore Township: 30.3%Blue Ash: 28.5%Dillonvale: 31.4%Cincinnati: 38.3%Sharonville: 32.1%Lincoln Heights: 56.3%Glendale: 30.2%Woodlawn: 38.9%Ridgewood: 29.2%Columbia Township: 33.6%Golf Manor: 44.9%Wyoming: 30%Montgomery: 28.1%Kenwood: 29%Deer Park: 31.8%Concorde Hills: 27.3%Madeira: 28.9%Brecon: 32.2%The Village of Indian Hill: 28.9%Rossmoyne: 32.1%Anderson Township: 31.8%Delhi Township: 34.2%Springfield Township: 39%Green Township: 33.4%Miami Township: 32.9%Finneytown: 36%Addyston: 35.2%Delhi Hills: 32.3%Monfort Heights: 31.7%Fairfax: 32.3%North College Hill: 42.8%Reading: 35.6%ReadingEvendaleAmberleyLocklandArlington HeightsSycamore TownshipBlue AshDillonvaleCincinnatiThe Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health · Cincinnati · 3 mi · 4★ MedicareHBethesda North · Cincinnati · 5.2 mi · 3★ MedicareHCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center · Cincinnati · 6.8 miHCincinnati VA Medical Center · Cincinnati · 7 mi · 4★ MedicareHLincoln Heights Health Center · Cincinnati · 1.4 mi+Winmed-Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency · Cincinnati · 3.2 mi+
Healthier than OHNear OHLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#27 of 36 towns on this map, healthiest first
Evendale28.4%
Blue Ash28.5%
Amberley29.3%
Sycamore Township30.3%
Dillonvale31.4%
Reading35.6%
Cincinnati38.3%
Arlington Heights40.6%
Lockland42.1%
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
ReadingC+35.6%12.8%16.9%CDC place
EvendaleA28.4%11.6%8%CDC place
AmberleyA29.3%11.8%7.8%CDC place
LocklandD42.1%16.6%22.2%CDC place
Arlington Heights————
Sycamore TownshipA30.3%11.5%10%ZIP codes
Blue AshA28.5%10.4%8.9%CDC place
DillonvaleA−31.4%10.9%12.2%CDC place

Arlington Heights: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Reading adults…

On every condition, Reading is about the same as Ohio. Tap one to see it as people.

36 of every 100 Reading adults have high blood pressure
Ohio: 37 in 100 · about the same · likely 32.7–38.5%
Better than OHWorseAbout the sameOhio
Getting care

Care in and near Reading

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

HNearest ERThe Jewish Hospital-Mercy HealthCincinnati · 3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyChrist Hospital★★★★★ · 8.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHealthcare ConnectionCincinnati · 1.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.4 mi
Healthcare Connection
3 sites · nearest in Cincinnati
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
3 mi
The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health
Cincinnati · ★★★★★
ER
3.2 mi
Winton Hills Med & Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Cincinnati
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
5.2 mi
Bethesda North
Cincinnati · ★★★★★
ER
6.8 mi
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati · not rated
ERChildren’s
7 mi
Cincinnati VA Medical Center
Cincinnati · ★★★★★
ERFor veterans
! Primary carePart of Reading is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, North Hamilton · need score 16 of 25
✓ Dental careReading is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Reading 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 Reading; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio

Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.

Get no exercise 25.9%OH 26.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 37.6%OH 37.9%
Binge drink 18.1%OH 16.6%
Smoke cigarettes 16.9%OH 15.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Reading, betterReading, worseAbout the sameOhio
Where Reading gets moving

1.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

78%Yearly checkupOH 80%
62%Dentist visitOH 63%
85%Cholesterol checkOH 86%
65%Colon screeningOH 65%
75%MammogramOH 76%
78%Taking BP medsOH 79%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Reading 8.3% · Ohio 1 in 13 (8%)
Mind & connection

How Reading adults are doing

About the same as Ohio on each measure.

1 in 3Reading adults feel lonely
33.5% · OH 35% · About the same as OH
1 in 5Reading adults lack social or emotional support
21.4% · OH 21.3% · About the same as OH
3 in 10Reading adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.7% · OH 25.4% · About the same as OH
1 in 5Reading adults are in frequent mental distress
18.8% · OH 17.5% · About the same as OH
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Reading 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.

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 7
Reading adults worry about having enough food
15.2% · OH 14.1%
About the same as OH
1 in 8
Reading adults worry about keeping their housing
12.3% · OH 11.3%
About the same as OH
1 in 11
Reading adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.2% · OH 8.3%
About the same as OH
1 in 12
Reading adults lack reliable transportation
8.4% · OH 7.7%
About the same as OH

13.6% of Reading adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29%

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

Walking or climbing stairs13.5%
Thinking or memory14.8%
Hearing6.8%
Errands alone8.7%
Vision5%
Dressing or bathing4%
Ohio

Every CDC estimate for Reading

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

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

Adults who…ReadingOHU.S.vs OH
Overall health
Fair or poor health19.8%17.6–22.319.4%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.6%12.1–15.313.9%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.8%16.9–20.917.5%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity35.6%31.5–39.937.1%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.8%11.3–14.313.2%12%About the same
High blood pressure35.5%32.7–38.537.2%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35%32.1–3836.7%37.1%About the same
Arthritis28.8%26.3–31.429.8%25.3%About the same
Asthma11.6%10.3–12.911.1%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.3%7.6–9.18.7%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease7%6.3–7.87.1%6.4%About the same
COPD8.4%7.4–9.58%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.6%3.2–3.93.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)16.9%14.2–19.915.3%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.9%14.7–19.315.4%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work25.9%22.8–29.426.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18.1%15.6–20.816.6%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours37.6%33.9–41.437.9%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.3%7–9.78%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year78.2%75.3–80.879.9%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year61.5%58.6–64.362.9%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years84.7%82.9–86.486.1%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78%75.5–80.479.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)64.8%60.9–68.765.2%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)74.9%68.9–80.376%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression27.7%24.7–30.825.4%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely33.5%29.2–37.735%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.4%18.3–24.521.3%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food15.2%12.9–17.514.1%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing12.3%10.5–14.111.3%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off9.2%7.9–10.48.3%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8.4%7.3–9.57.7%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)13.6%11.6–15.611.7%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability29%26–32.329.5%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13.5%11.8–15.313.9%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.8%13.1–16.513.9%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6.8%6–7.66.8%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty5%4.5–5.64.8%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.7%7.8–9.88.1%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4%3.6–4.43.8%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 Reading

Is Reading a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Reading is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #450 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 Reading?

CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 39.9%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Reading?

The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health in Cincinnati, 3.0 miles in a straight line from Reading’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Reading have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.7%), 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 Reading 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 Reading.

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.