Photo: A.Davey from Portland, Oregon, EE UU · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Union is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns
Union differs from Oregon on 12 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Union. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Union
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Union
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), vs 6.8% across Oregon. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.7%), vs 3.3% across Oregon. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.1%, vs 6.5% across Oregon. In all, Union runs above Oregon on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
In Union, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 8.5% of working-age adults are uninsured (Oregon 8.5%), yet 23.9% say their health is fair or poor, vs 19% across the state. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Union
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.5%), 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 Union’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Union’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 57% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Union’s median household income is $65,047; among the 9,934 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Union adults…
Union runs above OR on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Union 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.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Union
No hospital or community health center in Union 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 Union; ≈ 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).
How Union 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.
Union and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union | C− | 38% | 14.2% | 16.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Union adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Union
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Union is better than Oregon on 1 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside Union’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Union | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.9%19.9–27.8 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%14.9–19.8 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.7–21.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38%30–46.3 | 33.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12–16.4 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%35.4–44.5 | 32.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%32.9–42 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.6%31.7–39.6 | 27.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.8%11.2–14.5 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.6%9.6–11.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%7.9–10.3 | 6.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%8.7–12.3 | 6.8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4–5.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.8%16–24 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%13.4–19.7 | 12% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%19.8–29.7 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.2–18 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4%24.4–36.9 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%6.7–10.8 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.4%70.5–78.3 | 72.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%61.8–69.2 | 64.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.8%81.5–86.1 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%72.1–78.6 | 71.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66%60.5–70.8 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%69.6–83.7 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.9%23.8–32.3 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.9%31.6–42.3 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%15.3–21.3 | 13% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%14.7–19.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.1–7 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%8.7–12 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.1–5.7 | 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 Union
Is Union a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Union?
CDC estimates 38% of adults have obesity, likely between 30% and 46.3%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Union?
Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande, 13.9 miles in a straight line from Union’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Union have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–10.8%), 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 Union 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 Union.
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.