Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Elk Township is healthier than 66%
Elk Township differs from Pennsylvania on 10 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 16254, 16232, 16334, 16364. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elk Township
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Elk Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 7.7% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 7.4% across Pennsylvania. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.7% across Pennsylvania. In all, Elk Township runs above Pennsylvania on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Elk Township, and more people treating it
37.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Pennsylvania 32.8%), but 82.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Elk Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Elk Township is healthier than 37%. Against the 7,544 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 66%. 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 Elk Township’s likely range; Elk Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 16254, 16232, 16334, 16364, 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 Elk Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Township is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 58% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 18%).
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). Elk Township’s median household income is $55,402; among the 7,544 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 66%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Elk Township compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Elk Township adults…
Elk Township runs above PA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Elk Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Care in and near Elk Township
No hospital or community health center in Elk 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 Elk 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Elk 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.
Elk Township and the towns around it
Elk Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Township | C+ | 35.1% | 12.8% | 18.4% | ZIP codes |
| Beaver Township | C+ | 35.6% | 12.6% | 18.7% | ZIP codes |
| Paint Township | C+ | 35.1% | 12.5% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
| Pinegrove Township | C+ | 36.1% | 12.5% | 18.9% | ZIP codes |
| Washington Township | C− | 36.1% | 13.4% | 20.2% | ZIP codes |
| Knox Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Ashland Township | C+ | 35.3% | 12.5% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
Knox Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elk Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elk Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elk Township is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Elk Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elk Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.2%18.9–23.5 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.6–17.1 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15–18.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.1%27.8–42.8 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11–14.7 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%33.1–42.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%33.1–43 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.9%32.9–40.9 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.6–12.4 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.7–11.8 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%9.1–11.3 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.6–17.3 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.4%16.2–20.7 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.3%23–31.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%13.8–20.3 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.2%29.5–43.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.2%5.8–8.8 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%76.2–83.1 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.5%58.6–66.1 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%83.7–88.2 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.5%79.5–85.2 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.2%62.1–72 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%68.6–82.8 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%20–27.3 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.5%31.2–39.8 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%15.4–19.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.5–16.8 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.8–11 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.3 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.8 | 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 Elk Township
Is Elk Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Township is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elk Township?
CDC estimates 35.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.8% and 42.8%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elk Township?
Independence Health System Clarion Hospital in Clarion, 8.4 miles in a straight line from Elk Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elk Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–8.8%), 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 Elk 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 Elk 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.