Photo: SilentMatt Psychedelic · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, South Amherst is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns
South Amherst differs from Ohio on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Amherst. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Amherst
Cancer runs high in South Amherst
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 8.7% across Ohio. Conditions ↓
Fewer South Amherst adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, 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 South Amherst’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind South Amherst’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Amherst is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 57% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). South Amherst’s median household income is $86,194; among the 10,299 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($65K–$108K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where South Amherst compares well: worried about having enough food, 10.9% (U.S. 15%); worried about keeping housing, 9% (U.S. 12%); lack reliable transportation, 6.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Out of every 100 South Amherst adults…
South Amherst runs above OH on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.5% of South Amherst adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Care in and near South Amherst
No hospital or community health center in South Amherst itself. These are the nearest.
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 South Amherst; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of South Amherst adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How South Amherst adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
1 in 3 South Amherst 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.
South Amherst and the towns around it
South Amherst’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Amherst | C+ | 35.6% | 13.9% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Amherst Township | C+ | 36.4% | 14.2% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| New Russia Township | B− | 33.7% | 12.9% | 13% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Amherst adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Amherst
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Amherst is better than Ohio on 4 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside South Amherst’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Amherst | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.7%15.7–22 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%12.9–17.2 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.3–19.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%30.4–41.7 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12.1–16 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.4%35.9–43.4 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%36.4–44.1 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.1%31.1–37.6 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.4 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.5–11.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.7%7.3–10.4 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.9%12.2–17.8 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%12.3–18.5 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.8%23.6–32.8 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.5–19 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.5%33.2–43.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%5.5–8.9 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.3–83.2 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62%58.6–65.3 | 62.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.6%85.6–89.4 | 86.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.6%79.1–83.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.5%61.9–70.9 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%66.7–79.9 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.1%23–29.7 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%27–37 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20%16.7–23.7 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.9%8.5–13.9 | 14.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9%7.2–10.9 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.4%5.3–7.6 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.2%5.2–7.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%6.5–11 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.7%26.8–35.3 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%12.5–17.5 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.5–15.7 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.9–8.9 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.8–5.2 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%6.7–9.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.1–4.3 | 3.8% | 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 South Amherst
Is South Amherst a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Amherst is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Amherst?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.4% and 41.7%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Amherst?
Mercy Allen Hospital in Oberlin, 3.8 miles in a straight line from South Amherst’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Amherst have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–8.9%), 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 South Amherst 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 South Amherst.
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.