On CDC estimates, Lower Paxton Township is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns
Lower Paxton Township beats Pennsylvania on 5 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 17112, 17111, 17109. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lower Paxton Township
What’s behind Lower Paxton Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lower Paxton Township is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #229 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 84% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 59%.
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 Paxton Township’s median household income is $91,789; among the 9,752 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Lower Paxton Township
1 community health center in Lower Paxton 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 Paxton Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Lower Paxton Township adults…
Lower Paxton Township runs below PA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lower Paxton Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How Lower Paxton 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.
Lower Paxton Township and the towns around it
Lower Paxton Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Paxton Township | A− | 31.1% | 10.9% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| West Hanover Township | A | 30.2% | 10.3% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| South Hanover Township | A | 28.8% | 9.3% | 11.3% | ZIP codes |
| Swatara Township | B | 33.5% | 12.2% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
| Rutherford | — | — | — | — | |
| Middle Paxton Township | A | 29.9% | 10.3% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
Rutherford: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lower Paxton Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lower Paxton 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 Paxton Township is better than Pennsylvania on 5 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Lower Paxton 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 Paxton Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.2%14.3–18.2 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.4–13.3 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.3–16.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.1%24.7–37.4 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.4–12.6 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%28.7–36.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%30.2–39.3 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.2%26.5–33.7 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9–11.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%7.9–9.6 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.4 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10%8–12.2 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.9%12.1–15.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.7%18.1–25.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%14.3–21 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.1%32.7–45.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.6–7.5 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%76.3–83.1 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68%64.5–71.3 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.3–89.5 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.4%77.1–83.2 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%66.1–75.3 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.6%73.5–86.1 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%18.9–25.8 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.2%24.4–32 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.6%11–14.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%10.8–13.6 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%4–4.8 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%6.2–7.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.8–3.3 | 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 Paxton Township
Is Lower Paxton Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lower Paxton Township is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #229 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lower Paxton Township?
CDC estimates 31.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.7% and 37.4%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lower Paxton Township?
UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals in Harrisburg, 5.4 miles in a straight line from Lower Paxton Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lower Paxton Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–7.5%), 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 Lower Paxton 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 Lower Paxton 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.