Photo: bazusa · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Branch Township is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns
Branch Township trails Pennsylvania on 10 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 17901, 17944. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Branch Township
COPD, stroke and arthritis run high in Branch Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 7.7% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.7% across Pennsylvania. Arthritis is also above the state: 37.4%, vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. In all, Branch Township runs above Pennsylvania on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%), and COPD, stroke and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
1 in 12 working-age adults in Branch Township has no health insurance
8.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Branch Township
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.7%), vs 15.8% across Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania figure falls outside Branch Township’s likely range; Branch Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 17901, 17944, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Branch Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Branch Township is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 38% of U.S. towns); smoking 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). Branch Township’s median household income is $79,139; among the 10,796 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$99K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Branch Township adults…
Branch Township runs above PA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Branch Township is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Branch Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Branch Township 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.
4.3 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Branch Township
No hospital or community health center in Branch Township 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 Branch Township; ≈ 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 Branch Township 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.
Branch Township and the towns around it
Branch Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branch Township | C | 38.9% | 12.9% | 19.7% | ZIP codes |
| Pottsville | D | 40.2% | 13.5% | 21.3% | CDC place |
| Norwegian Township | C | 38.8% | 12.9% | 19.6% | ZIP codes |
| North Manheim Township | C+ | 37.9% | 12.1% | 18.6% | ZIP codes |
| Wayne Township | B− | 37.1% | 11.6% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
| Reilly Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Cass Township | C− | 38.9% | 12.9% | 19.7% | ZIP 17901 |
Reilly 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 Branch Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Branch Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Branch Township is better than Pennsylvania on 0 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Branch Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Branch Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%20.1–25.1 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.7 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%16–19.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%31.1–47.3 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11.1–15 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37%32.6–41.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.2–41.9 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.4%33.2–41.7 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.9 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.2–11.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%8.2–10 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%9.1–11.3 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.5%12.7–18.8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%17.2–22.3 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.3%22.9–32 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%13.8–20.8 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.9%32.8–47.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%7–9.7 | 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 | 60.4%56.5–64.3 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%82.7–87.4 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%78.6–84.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%60.8–71.5 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.9%68.9–83.9 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%21.9–30 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.1%32.6–41.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.9%15.9–20.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%14.6–18.4 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.5–10.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.8–7 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%9.3–11.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 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 Branch Township
Is Branch Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Branch Township is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Branch Township?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 47.3%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Branch Township?
Schuylkill Medical Center - South Jackson Street in Pottsville, 3.9 miles in a straight line from Branch Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Branch Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.7%), 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 Branch Township 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 Branch Township.
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.