Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Jenkins Township is healthier than 69%
Jenkins Township trails Pennsylvania on 6 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 18640, 18702. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jenkins Township
1 in 13 working-age adults in Jenkins Township has no health insurance
7.9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Arthritis and heart disease run high in Jenkins Township
36.1% of adults have arthritis, vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 7.4% across Pennsylvania. In all, Jenkins Township runs above Pennsylvania on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%), and arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Jenkins Township
Grades next door run from Laflin (A) to Pittston (C−). Jenkins Township is a C+. Around town ↓
Jenkins Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Jenkins Township is healthier than 38%. Against the 7,377 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$69K), it’s healthier than 69%. 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 Jenkins Township’s likely range; Jenkins Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 18640, 18702, 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 Jenkins Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jenkins Township is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #787 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 53% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Jenkins Township’s median household income is $54,878; among the 7,377 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$69K), it’s healthier than 69%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Jenkins Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Out of every 100 Jenkins Township adults…
Jenkins Township runs above PA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Jenkins Township is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Jenkins Township as about how healthy they are.
Jenkins Township and the towns around it
Jenkins Township’s Health Grade ranks 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jenkins Township | C+ | 38.1% | 12.2% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Laflin | A | 32.4% | 10.4% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| Plains Township | C− | 40.3% | 13% | 19.3% | ZIP codes |
| Yatesville | — | — | — | — | |
| Pittston Township | C+ | 37.6% | 12% | 17.3% | ZIP codes |
| Spring Brook Township | B | 32.7% | 11.4% | 16.4% | ZIP 18444 |
| Bear Creek Township | C− | 40.1% | 13.1% | 19.1% | ZIP codes |
| Thornhurst Township | B− | 34.9% | 12.9% | 18.2% | ZIP 18424 |
Yatesville: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Jenkins Township
No hospital or community health center in Jenkins 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 Jenkins 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.
12 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Jenkins 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jenkins Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jenkins Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jenkins Township is better than Pennsylvania on 0 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Jenkins Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jenkins Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%18.1–22.6 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.2–16.7 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.1–18.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%31.6–45.1 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.5–13.9 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.1%32.1–39.9 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%30.5–38.7 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.1%32.3–40.1 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.9–9.9 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%12.8–19.1 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%15.4–19.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%22.9–31.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%13.9–20.4 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%32.4–44.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%6.8–9.3 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%76.4–83.1 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63%59.2–66.6 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.3–87.7 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%77.5–83.3 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.4%61.3–71.1 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%67.3–81.9 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%20.3–27.5 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%31–39.5 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.4–18.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.2–16.6 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8–10.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.3–10.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.9–4.6 | 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 Jenkins Township
Is Jenkins Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jenkins Township is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #787 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jenkins Township?
CDC estimates 38.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 45.1%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jenkins Township?
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in Wilkes-barre, 6.9 miles in a straight line from Jenkins Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jenkins Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–9.3%), 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 Jenkins 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 Jenkins 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.