Photo: M.O. Stevens · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Durham is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns
Durham trails Oregon on 2 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Durham. How CDC estimates town health
What’s behind Durham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 76% of U.S. towns); mental 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). Durham’s median household income is $81,250; among the 10,702 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 43%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Durham adults…
On every condition, Durham is about the same as Oregon. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Durham
No hospital or community health center in Durham 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 Durham; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Oregon
Share of adults, with the Oregon figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Durham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
How Durham 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.
Durham and the towns around it
Durham’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Durham adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Durham
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Durham is better than Oregon on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside Durham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Durham | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.2%19.5–25.4 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.4–17.1 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.7–21 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.7%32–41.3 | 33.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.2–13.3 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.3%30.2–36.3 | 32.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.1%31.9–38.3 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.9%23.3–28.4 | 27.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.5%11.1–14 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.5–7 | 6.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7%6–8.2 | 6.8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.9–3.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.1%11.4–17.3 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%10.7–15.1 | 12% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.5%18.2–25.1 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.9–16.2 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.3%28.4–36.5 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.2%8.2–12.4 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.2%66.9–73.2 | 72.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.6%58.3–64.9 | 64.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.7%79.6–83.9 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.2%66.1–72 | 71.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.1%61–69.1 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%72.8–83.8 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.8%24.7–31 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.4%27.8–35.2 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%11.4–15.3 | 13% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.2%14.2–18.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 4.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.7–10.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.3–4.2 | 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 Durham
Is Durham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 43%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Durham?
CDC estimates 36.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 32% and 41.3%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Durham?
Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Durham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Durham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–12.4%), 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 Durham 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 Durham.
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.