Chester Waterside Station of the Philadelphia Electric Company · Photo: Jack Boucher · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Chester is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Chester differs from Pennsylvania on 19 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chester
Dental care lags in Chester
46.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Pennsylvania. Among those 65 and older, 28.3% have lost all their teeth (Pennsylvania 14.5%). Checkups ↓
More Chester adults get no exercise
36.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. Habits ↓
Chester is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Chester is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Chester
Grades next door run from Nether Providence Township (A+) to Upland (D). Chester is a D−. Around town ↓
More Chester adults live with a disability
42.8% of adults live with a disability, vs 31.3% across Pennsylvania. The biggest difference is vision loss: 10.8% vs 5.1%. Disability ↓
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 Chester’s likely range.
What’s behind Chester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chester is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #1,032 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All seven of Chester’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 23.4% of adults, against 15.8% across Pennsylvania and 11.8% nationally.
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). Chester’s median household income is $41,342; among the 2,785 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 11%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Chester compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Chester 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.
2.2 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Chester and the towns around it
Chester’s Health Grade ranks 10th of 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | D− | 44% | 18% | 23.4% | CDC place |
| Chester Township | B− | 34.2% | 12.5% | 16.7% | ZIP codes |
| Upland | D | 39.5% | 15.2% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Nether Providence Township | A+ | 27.2% | 10.1% | 9.5% | ZIP codes |
| Ridley Township | B+ | 31.5% | 10.6% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Woodlyn | — | — | — | — | |
| Trainer | C− | 37.9% | 13.5% | 21.3% | CDC place |
| Eddystone | C | 36.1% | 11.8% | 22.5% | CDC place |
Woodlyn: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chester adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Out of every 100 Chester adults…
Chester runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Chester
1 community health center in Chester, 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 Chester; ≈ 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 Chester adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Chester runs above Pennsylvania.
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.
Every CDC estimate for Chester
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chester is better than Pennsylvania on 2 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Chester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chester | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.2%28.3–34.3 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.6–19.6 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.7%19.6–23.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44%37–51.3 | 33.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18%15.8–20.3 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.5%39.8–47.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.5%28.8–36.3 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.9%28.5–35.4 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.2%11.6–14.9 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5%4.5–5.5 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.6%8.7–10.7 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.3–6.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.3%24–33.2 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.4%20.8–26.3 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.4%31.6–41.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.8–17.6 | 18.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 52.6%46.1–59.2 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%11.1–14.7 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%76.9–83.6 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.4%42.6–50.3 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.4%76.5–82.2 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.9–81 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.3%56–66.6 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%70.7–84.3 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.9%18.6–25.5 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.8%38.3–47.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.2%20–24.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.1%19–23.5 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 10.8%9.9–11.8 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.3%13–15.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.2%7.6–8.8 | 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 Chester
Is Chester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chester is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #1,032 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 11%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chester?
CDC estimates 44% of adults have obesity, likely between 37% and 51.3%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chester?
Crozer Chester Medical Center in Upland, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Chester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Chester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.1–14.7%), 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 Chester more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chester.
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.