Photo: User:Cards84664 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Erie is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Erie differs from Pennsylvania on 13 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Erie. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Erie
Erie is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Erie is healthier than 12%. Against the 4,385 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 38%. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Erie scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Erie’s D, from Wesleyville (C) to Millcreek Township (A−). Around town ↓
Dental care lags in Erie
54.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Pennsylvania. Among those 65 and older, 21.5% have lost all their teeth (Pennsylvania 14.5%). Checkups ↓
More Erie adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.8%), vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. There are 13 miles of trails across 59 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Erie has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers are inside Erie. Saint Vincent Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Erie’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Erie’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Erie is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #987 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 37% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Erie’s median household income is $46,113; among the 4,385 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 38%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Erie and the towns around it
Erie’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | D | 39.9% | 12.9% | 21.6% | CDC place |
| Millcreek Township | A− | 33.5% | 10.6% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| Wesleyville | C | 37.9% | 11.3% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Lawrence Park | — | — | — | — | |
| Lawrence Park Township | C+ | 36.6% | 11.9% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Harborcreek Township | C+ | 36.5% | 12% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Northwest Harborcreek | — | — | — | — |
Lawrence Park and Northwest Harborcreek: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Keeping up with care
Share of Erie 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.
13 miles of trails across 59 parks and preserves
Care in and near Erie
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Erie, 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 Erie; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Erie adults…
Erie runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
How Erie adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Erie 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Erie adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Erie
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Erie is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Erie’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Erie | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25%22.7–27.6 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.9–18.5 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.7–22.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.9%34.1–46 | 33.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11.3–14.7 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34%30.5–37.7 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.9%31.3–38.9 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.9%29.7–36.3 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.5–13.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.3–8.8 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.5%18.1–25.3 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.6%19.3–24.2 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.8%27.7–36.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%14.4–20.6 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.4%34.9–46.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8.9–11.5 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%76.8–83.2 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.7%51.1–58.4 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.2%77.6–82.9 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76–81.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.7%61–70.3 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%70.8–83.6 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25%21.7–28.7 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8%34.8–43 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.1%16.2–20.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%17.5–21.5 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.7%7.1–8.4 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.9–13.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 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 Erie
Is Erie a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Erie is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #987 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 38%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Erie?
CDC estimates 39.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 46%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Erie?
UPMC Hamot in Erie, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Erie’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Erie have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.9–11.5%), 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 Erie more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Erie.
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.