Photo: M.O. Stevens · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Salem as a whole is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns
Salem differs from Oregon on 5 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
1 in 9 working-age adults in Salem has no health insurance
11.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.5% across Oregon. Checkups ↓
Obesity runs high in Salem
2 in 5 adults have obesity (41.4%), vs 33.6% across Oregon. Conditions ↓
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 Salem’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind Salem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #91 of 142 in Oregon. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 77% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Salem’s median household income is $75,487; among the 10,834 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$94K), it’s healthier than 49%, about where its income would put it.
At 181,779 residents, Salem is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs below OR on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Salem
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Salem, 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 Salem; ≈ 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.
55 miles of trails across 86 parks and preserves
How Salem 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.
Salem and the towns around it
Salem’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | B− | 41.4% | 11.7% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Hayesville | C− | 46.8% | 13.9% | 15% | CDC place |
| Four Corners | C− | 45.9% | 13.7% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Keizer | B− | 41.6% | 11.6% | 11.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salem
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salem is better than Oregon on 1 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside Salem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salem | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.8%18.9–22.8 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%13–15.7 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%17.1–20.6 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.4%37.1–46.1 | 33.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.4–13 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.9%29.2–34.8 | 32.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.3%30.6–36.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.3%24.2–28.7 | 27.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.4%11.3–13.7 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.2–8.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.6–6.7 | 6.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.9%6.3–7.6 | 6.8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3.1–3.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%11–15.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%11.1–14 | 12% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.3%18.8–24.1 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%14–18.6 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.2%30.4–38.2 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.6%10.3–13 | 8.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.8%68.7–74.8 | 72.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.6%58.7–64.5 | 64.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.5%79.7–83.2 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.1%66.4–71.8 | 71.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%60.2–67.5 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%72.4–82.5 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%25–30.8 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.8%28.9–34.8 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.6%12.3–15 | 13% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%15.1–18.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%5.1–5.9 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%8.1–9.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 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 Salem
Is Salem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #91 of 142 in Oregon. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 49%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Salem?
CDC estimates 41.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 46.1%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Salem Hospital in Salem, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Salem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–13%), 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 Salem 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 Salem.
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.