Photo: Clint · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Harris Township is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Harris Township differs from Pennsylvania on 12 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 16827, 16828, 16801. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Harris Township
Harris Township is an active town
Only 18.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. The town has 84 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Cancer runs high in Harris Township
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 8.8% across Pennsylvania. Conditions ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in Harris Township
Harris Township runs below Pennsylvania on COPD (6.2% vs 7.7%), diabetes (9.4% vs 11.6%) and stroke (3.1% vs 3.7%). Conditions ↓
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 Harris Township’s likely range; Harris Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 16827, 16828, 16801, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Harris Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harris Township is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #95 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 90% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 80%.
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). Harris Township’s median household income is $103,377; among the 8,062 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$129K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
84 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Harris Township adults…
Harris Township runs below PA on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Harris Township
No hospital or community health center in Harris 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 Harris 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Harris Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How Harris Township adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Harris Township does better than 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.
Harris Township and the towns around it
Harris Township has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris Township | A | 30.3% | 9.4% | 11.3% | ZIP codes |
| College Township | A− | 29.7% | 7.4% | 12.1% | ZIP codes |
| Jackson Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Potter Township | B+ | 33.7% | 11.3% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Ferguson Township | A | 29.9% | 8.3% | 12% | ZIP codes |
| Benner Township | B+ | 33.6% | 9.6% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
Jackson 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 Harris Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Harris Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Harris Township is better than Pennsylvania on 11 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Harris Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Harris Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14%12.4–15.8 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.7–12.4 | 13.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.7–15.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.3%24.3–36.8 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.1–10.9 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30%26.2–33.8 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%29.7–38.3 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27–34.3 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.3–11.4 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%5.6–7 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.9%7.1–10.9 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.3%9.8–12.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.7%15.6–22.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.1%15.8–22.7 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32%26.4–38 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5%4–6.2 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77–83.6 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.2%69–75.2 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.5–88.8 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%76.5–82.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.6%69.1–77.7 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.1%73.1–85.7 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.3–26.3 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.3%21.9–28.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11%9.6–12.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.1%9.8–12.4 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.4–4.1 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.6–6.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.4–2.9 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Harris Township
Is Harris Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harris Township is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #95 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Harris Township?
CDC estimates 30.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.3% and 36.8%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Harris Township?
Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, 7.0 miles in a straight line from Harris Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Harris Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4–6.2%), 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 Harris Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Harris 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.