Photo: Davist898 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Brookings is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns
Brookings differs from Oregon on 10 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brookings. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brookings
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Brookings
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 6.5% across Oregon. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.3%), vs 6.8% across Oregon. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.3% across Oregon. In all, Brookings runs above Oregon on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Oregon 19%), and heart disease, COPD and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 24 miles from Brookings
The closest emergency room is Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, 24.1 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Brookings, and more people treating it
39.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Oregon 32.7%), but 76.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Brookings’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Brookings’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brookings is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns, #107 of 142 in Oregon. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 69% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Brookings’ median household income is $74,933; among the 10,850 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$94K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Brookings compares well: colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75), 71.2% (U.S. 65.5%).
Out of every 100 Brookings adults…
Brookings runs above OR on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Brookings is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Oregon. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Brookings as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Brookings
No hospital or community health center in Brookings 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 Brookings; ≈ 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 Brookings adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
Everyday habits, side by side with Oregon
Share of adults, with the Oregon figure marked.
4.7 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How Brookings 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.
Brookings and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings | C+ | 37.7% | 13.7% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Brookings adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Brookings
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brookings is better than Oregon on 2 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside Brookings’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brookings | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.1%18.6–25.6 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14–18.4 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.3–19.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.7%30.3–45.3 | 33.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.7%11.6–15.7 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.1%34.8–43.4 | 32.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%33.5–42.2 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.8%31.2–38.5 | 27.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%11–13.9 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.6%10.5–12.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 6.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.3%7.8–10.9 | 6.8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.1%10.6–16.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%11–16 | 12% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.7%18.3–27.3 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.6–16.8 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30%24.1–36 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.6%6.9–10.3 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.9%71.2–78.5 | 72.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.3%62.6–69.7 | 64.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%83.9–87.6 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.2%73–79.1 | 71.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.2%66.4–75.5 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%69.6–83.4 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.4%22.7–30.2 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3%30.3–40.3 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%14.8–20.4 | 13% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.2%13.2–17.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.4 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%7.9–10.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Brookings
Is Brookings a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brookings is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #107 of 142 in Oregon. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brookings?
CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 45.3%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brookings?
Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, 24.1 miles in a straight line from Brookings’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Brookings have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–10.3%), 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 Brookings more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Brookings.
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.