Photo: Ii2nmd · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Lower Merion Township is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Lower Merion Township differs from Pennsylvania on 20 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 19035, 19010, 19096, 19085. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lower Merion Township
Lower Merion Township ranks #3 for health in Pennsylvania
Out of 1,035 Pennsylvania towns with a Health Grade, Lower Merion Township is #3 on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 99% of towns. Health Grade ↓
Lower Merion Township is an active town
Only 14.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. The town has 42 miles of trails across 44 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Lower Merion Township has a five-star hospital
Bryn Mawr Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Few Lower Merion Township adults smoke
7.8% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 15.8% across Pennsylvania. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Lower Merion Township
Lower Merion Township runs below Pennsylvania on five chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.5% vs 7.7%), stroke (2.6% vs 3.7%) and diabetes (8.4% vs 11.6%). 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 Lower Merion Township’s likely range; Lower Merion Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 19035, 19010, 19096, 19085, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Lower Merion Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lower Merion Township is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #3 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 almost every town); the weakest is obesity, still better than 93%.
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). Lower Merion Township’s median household income is $176,512; among the 1,476 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($132K–$221K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
42 miles of trails across 44 parks and preserves
Care in and near Lower Merion Township
2 hospitals in Lower Merion Township, 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 Lower Merion Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Lower Merion Township adults…
Lower Merion Township runs below PA on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lower Merion Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How Lower Merion Township adults are doing
On 2 of 2 measures, Lower Merion 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.
Lower Merion Township and the towns around it
Lower Merion Township has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Merion Township | A+ | 26.4% | 8.4% | 7.8% | ZIP codes |
| Philadelphia | C | 33.2% | 14% | 17.2% | CDC place |
| Haverford Township | A+ | 27.2% | 9% | 9.8% | ZIP codes |
| Bala Cynwyd | — | — | — | — | |
| Radnor Township | A+ | 25% | 7.7% | 8.2% | ZIP codes |
| West Conshohocken | A+ | 28.7% | 6.2% | 8.4% | CDC place |
| Penn Wynne | — | — | — | — | |
| Whitemarsh Township | A+ | 29.1% | 9% | 9.9% | ZIP codes |
Bala Cynwyd and Penn Wynne: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lower Merion Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lower Merion Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lower Merion Township is better than Pennsylvania on 19 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Lower Merion Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lower Merion Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.8%9.6–12.1 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 13.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.5–14.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.4%21.7–31.3 | 33.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.4%7.3–9.6 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.1%26.2–32.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.9%28.7–35.4 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28%25.1–31.1 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.2%8.2–10.4 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.5%4–5 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–2.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.8%4.7–7.1 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 14.8%12.5–17.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.2%16.3–22.4 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6%27.9–37.6 | 37.9% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.8%3.1–4.6 | 5.8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76.2–82.4 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 77.4%74.7–79.9 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%86.9–90.3 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75–80.7 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.2%68.2–76 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.3%75.4–86.2 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.8%17.1–22.8 | 23% | 20.6% | Better |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.1%19.4–25.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.1%8–10.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.7–3.3 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.9%1.8–2.1 | 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 Lower Merion Township
Is Lower Merion Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lower Merion Township is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #3 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lower Merion Township?
CDC estimates 26.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.7% and 31.3%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lower Merion Township?
Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, 2.3 miles in a straight line from Lower Merion Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lower Merion Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.1–4.6%), 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 Lower Merion Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lower Merion 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.