Photo: SkatePark in Main City Park, Gresham, Oregon.jpg · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Gresham as a whole is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns
Gresham differs from Oregon on 10 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gresham. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gresham
Mental distress runs high in Gresham
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20.4%), vs 17.5% across Oregon. Depression is above the state too: 31.2%, vs 27.1% across Oregon. Mind & connection ↓
Dental care lags in Gresham
58.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.7% across Oregon. Among those 65 and older, 16.8% have lost all their teeth (Oregon 12.5%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Gresham
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.3%), vs 12% across Oregon. 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 Oregon figure falls outside Gresham’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind Gresham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gresham is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #89 of 142 in Oregon. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 79% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Gresham’s median household income is $77,795; among the 10,836 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$97K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
At 111,513 residents, Gresham is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
How Gresham adults are doing
On 2 of 2 measures, Gresham runs above Oregon.
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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gresham 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.
19 miles of trails across 47 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Gresham adults…
Gresham runs below OR on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gresham
1 hospital and 4 community health centers in Gresham, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Gresham; ≈ 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).
Gresham and the towns around it
Gresham’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gresham adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gresham
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gresham is better than Oregon on 2 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside Gresham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gresham | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%20.5–24.7 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.6–16.5 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.4%18.6–22.4 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.2%27.6–35.1 | 33.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.3%10–12.6 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31%28.5–33.7 | 32.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.2%31.4–37.1 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.6%22.5–26.9 | 27.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.5%11.3–13.9 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.8–7 | 6.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.2%6.5–8 | 6.8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.2–3.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.8%13.9–20 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%13.7–17.2 | 12% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 22.5%19.9–25.3 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%14.1–18.4 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.3%26.8–34 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11%9.7–12.4 | 8.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70%67–72.9 | 72.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.8%55.7–61.9 | 64.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.9%80–83.6 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.2%66.3–72 | 71.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.8%57.8–65.7 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.1%69.2–80.5 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.2%28.4–34.2 | 27.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.1%31.3–37.1 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%12.4–15.4 | 13% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%16.4–19.8 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.3–6.2 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.9–10.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 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 Gresham
Is Gresham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gresham is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #89 of 142 in Oregon. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 47%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gresham?
CDC estimates 31.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 35.1%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gresham?
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Gresham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gresham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–12.4%), 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 Gresham 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 Gresham.
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.