Fulton Opera House · Photo: Scanlan · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Lancaster is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns
Lancaster differs from Pennsylvania on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lancaster. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lancaster
1 in 7 working-age adults in Lancaster has no health insurance
14.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Every town around Lancaster scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Lancaster’s C, from East Lampeter Township (B−) to Manheim Township (A−). Around town ↓
Dental care lags in Lancaster
56.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Pennsylvania. Among those 65 and older, 18.7% have lost all their teeth (Pennsylvania 14.5%). Checkups ↓
Lancaster has a five-star hospital
Lancaster General Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Lancaster
Lancaster runs below Pennsylvania on cancer (5.4% vs 8.8%) and heart disease (6.1% vs 7.4%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%). 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 Lancaster’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Lancaster’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lancaster is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #906 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 49% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Lancaster’s median household income is $63,690; among the 9,681 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Lancaster compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Lancaster adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Lancaster and the towns around it
Lancaster’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | C | 40.1% | 12.1% | 17.6% | CDC place |
| Manheim Township | A− | 33.5% | 10.6% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| West Lampeter Township | B− | 36.5% | 12.2% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| Lancaster Township | B | 36.7% | 11% | 14.7% | ZIP codes |
| East Lampeter Township | B− | 36.1% | 11.5% | 16.5% | ZIP codes |
| Willow Street | — | — | — | — |
Willow Street: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Lancaster
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lancaster, 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 Lancaster; ≈ 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 Lancaster adults…
Lancaster runs below PA on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Lancaster residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
9.4 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves
How Lancaster adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Lancaster 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 Lancaster adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lancaster
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lancaster is better than Pennsylvania on 5 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Lancaster’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lancaster | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%21.4–26.3 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.9–16.3 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.2–21.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%32.9–47.7 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.1%10.5–13.8 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.2%25.6–32.8 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%27.7–35.4 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.9%22.7–29.2 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–6 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.7%15.4–22.2 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%15.4–19.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.3%24–32.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%14.8–22 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.6%35.8–49.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.6%12.9–16.5 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.8%71.6–79.6 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.1%52.3–59.8 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.7%76.4–82.5 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.9%71.5–78 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.2%53.7–64.4 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%64.9–80.5 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24%20.3–27.8 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.1%30.8–39.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.9%13.3–16.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%16.3–20.2 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7.7%7.1–8.4 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.1–11.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.7–5.5 | 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 Lancaster
Is Lancaster a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lancaster is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #906 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lancaster?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 47.7%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lancaster?
Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Lancaster’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lancaster have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.9–16.5%), 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster.
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.