Photo: Ted Van Pelt · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Harrisburg is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Harrisburg differs from Pennsylvania on 16 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Harrisburg. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Harrisburg
Every town around Harrisburg scores healthier
All seven graded neighbors are ahead of Harrisburg’s D, from Susquehanna Township (B−) to East Pennsboro Township (A−). Around town ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Harrisburg has no health insurance
13.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Dental care lags in Harrisburg
50.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Pennsylvania. Among those 65 and older, 23.7% have lost all their teeth (Pennsylvania 14.5%). Checkups ↓
Harrisburg has a top-rated hospital
UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals 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 Harrisburg’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Harrisburg’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harrisburg is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #1,005 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 19% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Harrisburg’s median household income is $48,099; among the 5,045 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Harrisburg compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Harrisburg and the towns around it
Harrisburg’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | D | 41% | 15.4% | 20.8% | CDC place |
| Susquehanna Township | B− | 34.6% | 12.7% | 15.7% | ZIP codes |
| East Pennsboro Township | A− | 33.8% | 10.2% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
| Wormleysburg | B+ | 34.5% | 10.3% | 15.4% | CDC place |
| West Fairview | — | — | — | — | |
| Lemoyne | A− | 35.1% | 9.9% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Swatara Township | B | 33.5% | 12.2% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
| New Cumberland | B | 36.4% | 11% | 16.1% | CDC place |
West Fairview: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Keeping up with care
Share of Harrisburg adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Care in and near Harrisburg
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Harrisburg adults…
Harrisburg runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Harrisburg residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
9.1 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
How Harrisburg adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Harrisburg
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Harrisburg is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Harrisburg’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Harrisburg | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.7%25.1–30.5 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.5–18.2 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.9–21.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%33.8–48 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.4–17.4 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%33.2–41.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.4%28.4–36.7 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.1%25.7–32.6 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.8–13.9 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.3–7.7 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.3%7.5–9.3 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.3–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.7%19.9–27.8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.8%18.4–23.5 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.8%28.1–37.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.4–18.6 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 48%41.2–54.4 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.7%12.1–15.5 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%75.6–82.7 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.5%46.6–54.3 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81%78.1–83.9 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%75.8–81.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.6%56.2–66.6 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%70.3–84 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%19.6–26.8 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.4%33.9–42.8 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.9%16.9–21 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%17.2–21.2 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.3%8.5–10.1 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%11–13.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%6.2–7.3 | 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 Harrisburg
Is Harrisburg a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harrisburg is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #1,005 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Harrisburg?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.8% and 48%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Harrisburg?
UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals in Harrisburg, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Harrisburg’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Harrisburg have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.1–15.5%), 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 Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg.
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.