Hugo Community Baptist Church · Photo: NoeHill · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Merlin is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns
Merlin differs from Oregon on 15 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Merlin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merlin
Heart disease, stroke and COPD run high in Merlin
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.9%), vs 6.5% across Oregon. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.3% across Oregon. COPD is also above the state: 10%, vs 6.8% across Oregon. In all, Merlin runs above Oregon on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (Oregon 19%), and heart disease, stroke and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Merlin, and more people treating it
40% of adults have high blood pressure (Oregon 32.7%), but 78.2% 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 Merlin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Merlin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merlin is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 75% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Merlin’s median household income is $71,806; among the 10,654 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Merlin adults…
Merlin runs above OR on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Merlin is an older town: 32% 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 Merlin as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Merlin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
Care in and near Merlin
No hospital or community health center in Merlin 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 Merlin; ≈ 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 1 park or preserve
How Merlin 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.
Merlin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merlin | C+ | 32.3% | 14.8% | 14% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Merlin adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Merlin
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Merlin is better than Oregon on 3 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside Merlin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Merlin | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.6%19.4–26 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%14.8–19.3 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.5–18.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.3%26.2–39 | 33.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.8%12.7–17.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40%35.8–44.4 | 32.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%36.1–44.9 | 34.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 37.4%33.6–41.4 | 27.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.7–13.6 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.5%11.3–13.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 6.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.5–11.5 | 6.8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%13–19 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%11.7–16.6 | 12% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.6%19.4–28 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%10.9–15.9 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4%25.1–36.1 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%6.8–10.2 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.5%73–79.9 | 72.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.1%56.3–63.9 | 64.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.6%84.7–88.3 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%74.9–81.2 | 71.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.9%62.9–72.8 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.6%67–81.2 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22–29.4 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.5%31.7–41.2 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.5%15.8–21.3 | 13% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13–17 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.5%9.2–11.8 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5–6.4 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%7.9–10.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4–5.3 | 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 Merlin
Is Merlin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merlin is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Merlin?
CDC estimates 32.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.2% and 39%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Merlin?
Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, 8.3 miles in a straight line from Merlin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Merlin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–10.2%), 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 Merlin more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Merlin.
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.