Photo: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Athena is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns
Athena differs from Oregon on 3 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Athena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Athena
Arthritis runs high in Athena
1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.7%), vs 27.4% across Oregon. Conditions ↓
Athena is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Athena is healthier than 65%. Against the 10,665 towns with similar household incomes ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 80%. 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 Oregon figure falls outside Athena’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Athena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athena is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 82% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). Athena’s median household income is $71,898; among the 10,665 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Athena adults…
Athena runs below OR on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Athena residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Oregon. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Athena
No hospital or community health center in Athena 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 Athena; ≈ 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 habits, side by side with Oregon
Share of adults, with the Oregon figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Athena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
How Athena adults are doing
About the same as Oregon on each measure.
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.
Athena and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athena | B | 34.5% | 11.4% | 12.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Athena adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Athena
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Athena is better than Oregon on 1 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside Athena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Athena | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.5%15.5–21.7 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.4–16.6 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%14.8–19.4 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.5%27.9–41.2 | 33.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%9.8–13.4 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.7%29.7–37.8 | 32.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.4%30.3–38.6 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.3–35.3 | 27.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.5%11.1–14.1 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6–7.9 | 6.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.4%6.1–8.8 | 6.8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.1–4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.6%7.6–11.9 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.1–15 | 12% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.2%16.4–24.5 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.2–19.2 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.6%26–37.6 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.1%5.6–9 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.5%71.8–79.1 | 72.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.6%59.9–67.2 | 64.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83–87.4 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.7%71.2–77.9 | 71.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.9%61.7–71.7 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.1%72–85.1 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.5–27.8 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31%26.7–35.9 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.1%11.8–16.6 | 13% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.3%12.2–16.5 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.7 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.8–5 | 4.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%6.7–9.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.9–4 | 3.4% | 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 Oregon figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Athena
Is Athena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athena is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Athena?
CDC estimates 34.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.9% and 41.2%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Athena?
St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton, 18.7 miles in a straight line from Athena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Athena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–9%), against 8.5% across Oregon.
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 Athena 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 Athena.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oregon 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.