Photo: AnthraciteCoalRegion · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Ashland is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns
Ashland differs from Pennsylvania on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ashland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ashland
COPD, heart disease and arthritis run high in Ashland
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11%), vs 7.7% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.6%), vs 7.4% across Pennsylvania. Arthritis is also above the state: 39%, vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. In all, Ashland runs above Pennsylvania on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
1 in 11 working-age adults in Ashland has no health insurance
9.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Ashland
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.1%), vs 15.8% across Pennsylvania. Habits ↓
Ashland is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ashland is healthier than 18%. Against the 6,695 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 39%. Health Grade ↓
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 Pennsylvania figure falls outside Ashland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Ashland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #951 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 35% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Ashland’s median household income is $52,708; among the 6,695 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 39%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Ashland compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Ashland adults…
Ashland runs above PA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ashland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Ashland
No hospital or community health center in Ashland 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 Ashland; ≈ 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 Ashland adults are doing
About the same as Pennsylvania 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.
Ashland and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | C− | 40.1% | 13.7% | 21.1% | CDC place |
| Butler Township | C | 39.9% | 12.3% | 20.7% | ZIP codes |
| Conyngham Township | — | — | — | — |
Conyngham Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ashland adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ashland
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ashland is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Ashland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ashland | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%20.6–25.9 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.5–18.5 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%16.1–20 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%31.9–48.7 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.7%11.7–15.8 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.4%34.8–44.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%33.2–43 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 39%34.7–43.6 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–13 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.6–10.7 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11%9.8–12.3 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.2%11.4–17.6 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.1%18.5–23.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.1%23.6–33 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%13.8–20.7 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.7%33.4–48.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.1–11.7 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.1–83.3 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.6%55.6–63.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.8%81.1–86.3 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.4%79.3–85.1 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.1%56.7–67.3 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%66.5–82 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.2%22.3–30.6 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.1%33.5–43 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.8%16.7–21.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%14.6–18.4 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%9.2–11.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.4 | 3.7% | 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 Pennsylvania figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ashland
Is Ashland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #951 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 39%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ashland?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 48.7%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ashland?
Schuylkill Medical Center - South Jackson Street in Pottsville, 10.6 miles in a straight line from Ashland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ashland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–11.7%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
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 Ashland 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 Ashland.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Pennsylvania 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.