Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, University Heights is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
University Heights differs from Ohio on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for University Heights. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in University Heights
Binge drinking is the habit University Heights doesn’t win on
21.8% of adults binge drink, vs 16.6% across Ohio, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in University Heights
University Heights runs below Ohio on eight chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.6% vs 8%), heart disease (4.3% vs 7.1%) and diabetes (8.6% vs 13.2%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (Ohio 18%). Conditions ↓
University Heights is an active town
Only 17% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.9% across Ohio. Habits ↓
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 University Heights’ likely range.
What’s behind University Heights’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, University Heights is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, #48 of 993 in Ohio. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 96% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 65%.
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). University Heights’ median household income is $96,971; among the 9,028 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($73K–$121K), it’s healthier than 95%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 University Heights adults…
University Heights runs below OH on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of University Heights residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Ohio. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near University Heights
No hospital or community health center in University Heights 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 University Heights; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of University Heights adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How University Heights adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
2 in 5 University Heights 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.
8.4% of University Heights adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
University Heights and the towns around it
University Heights’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Heights | A | 30% | 8.6% | 9.9% | CDC place |
| Cleveland Heights | A− | 33.3% | 11.9% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Beachwood | A+ | 26.1% | 10.6% | 7.6% | CDC place |
| Shaker Heights | A | 31.1% | 11% | 8.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of University Heights adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for University Heights
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, University Heights is better than Ohio on 20 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside University Heights’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | University Heights | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.4%11.8–15.2 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.8%8.7–11 | 13.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.1 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30%26.6–33.6 | 37.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.5%26.2–30.8 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.4%29–34 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.7%19–22.6 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.3%10.1–12.5 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.8–10.9 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.9%8.5–11.6 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17%14.7–19.4 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.8%19.2–24.7 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.8%32.6–39.2 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.6%4.6–6.9 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.3%74.5–80 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.9%66.3–71.3 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83–87 | 86.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%71–75.6 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.3%67–73.4 | 65.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.6%77.3–85.4 | 76% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.8–28.2 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.8%33.8–42 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20%17.3–23 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11%9.2–12.9 | 14.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%8.1–11.1 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.2–8.3 | 8.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.8%5.9–7.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.4%7–9.9 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.5%20.8–26.4 | 29.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9%8–10.1 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.9%10.3–13.7 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.9 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–3.8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.5–7.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.3–2.8 | 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 University Heights
Is University Heights a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, University Heights is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health, #48 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in University Heights?
CDC estimates 30% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.6% and 33.6%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to University Heights?
Lake Health Beachwood Medical Center in Beachwood, 2.8 miles in a straight line from University Heights’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in University Heights have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–6.9%), 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 University Heights more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in University Heights.
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.