Photo: Mvincec · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Mars is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Mars differs from Pennsylvania on 12 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mars. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mars
Mars is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Mars is healthier than 74%. Against the 6,113 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 98%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Mars
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (13.3%), vs 8.8% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.5%), vs 7.4% across Pennsylvania. Arthritis is also above the state: 39%, vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. In all, Mars runs above Pennsylvania on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 36% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Mars keeps up with checkups
It beats Pennsylvania on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (83.1% vs 78.8%) and dentist visits (70% vs 64.4%). Checkups ↓
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 Mars’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Mars’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mars is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 94% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 51%.
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). Mars’ median household income is $50,938; among the 6,113 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 98%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Mars adults…
Mars runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Mars is an older town: 36% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Mars as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mars adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Care in and near Mars
No hospital or community health center in Mars 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 Mars; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Mars adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Mars 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.
Mars and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars | B+ | 31.3% | 12% | 11.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mars adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mars
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mars is better than Pennsylvania on 8 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Mars’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mars | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.3%15.4–19.5 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.7–14.9 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.9–14.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.3%25.3–38.1 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12%10.3–13.9 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%32.6–42.9 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.2%31.8–43.2 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 39%35–43.1 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 13.3%11.9–14.8 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.5–10.7 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.5%7.5–9.5 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.4–8.6 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.3%9.8–12.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24.8%21.1–28.8 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.1–19.2 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%28.8–40.9 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.2%3.8–6.9 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.1%80–85.9 | 78.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70%66.6–73.3 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.3%88.2–92.2 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84.9%81.4–87.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.3%68.9–77.6 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.1%76–87.5 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.3%17.2–23.7 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%31–38.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%14.9–19 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%10.4–13.2 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.9–3.6 | 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 Mars
Is Mars a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mars is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mars?
CDC estimates 31.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.3% and 38.1%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mars?
Ahn Wexford Hospital in Wexford, 5.0 miles in a straight line from Mars’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mars have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.8–6.9%), 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 Mars 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 Mars.
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.