Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Mount Penn is healthier than 88%
Mount Penn differs from Pennsylvania on 6 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mount Penn. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mount Penn
Mount Penn is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Mount Penn is healthier than 66%. Against the 9,653 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$79K), it’s healthier than 88%. Health Grade ↓
1 in 9 working-age adults in Mount Penn has no health insurance
10.9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Mount Penn
Grades next door run from St. Lawrence (A−) to Reading (D−). Mount Penn is a B+. Around town ↓
Stroke and COPD are less common in Mount Penn
Mount Penn runs below Pennsylvania on stroke (3.1% vs 3.7%) and COPD (6.5% vs 7.7%). 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 Mount Penn’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Mount Penn’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mount Penn is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, #394 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 76% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 45%).
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). Mount Penn’s median household income is $63,512; among the 9,653 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$79K), it’s healthier than 88%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mount Penn adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Mount Penn and the towns around it
Mount Penn’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Penn | B+ | 35.7% | 10.4% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Lower Alsace Township | B+ | 34.2% | 10.9% | 15.3% | ZIP 19606 |
| Pennside | — | — | — | — | |
| St. Lawrence | A− | 33.6% | 10.8% | 13.9% | CDC place |
| Reading | D− | 42.6% | 15.9% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Exeter Township | B+ | 34.2% | 10.8% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
Pennside: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Mount Penn adults…
Mount Penn runs below PA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Mount Penn
No hospital or community health center in Mount Penn 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 Mount Penn; ≈ 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.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Mount Penn 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 Mount Penn adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mount Penn
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mount Penn is better than Pennsylvania on 4 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Mount Penn’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mount Penn | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.8%15.7–20 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.9–13.9 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.8–18.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%28.8–43.3 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.4%8.9–12 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.9%27–34.8 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.8%26.8–34.9 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%23.5–30.5 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.2–12 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–7 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.8%9.4–14.5 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%13.3–17.4 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%19.6–27.8 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.6%16.1–23.6 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.7%35.1–48.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%8.7–13.3 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.1%74.2–81.7 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.1%60.2–67.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.6%82–87 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.1–79.8 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.3%55.8–66.7 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%72.1–85.6 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%19.4–26.8 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.5%25.6–33.8 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.7–13.9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.7–16.1 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.6–5.5 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.6 | 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 Mount Penn
Is Mount Penn a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mount Penn is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #394 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 Mount Penn?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 43.3%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mount Penn?
Reading Hospital in West Reading, 3.1 miles in a straight line from Mount Penn’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mount Penn have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–13.3%), 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 Mount Penn more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mount Penn.
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.