Globe Knitting Mills · Photo: Smallbones · CC0On CDC estimates, Norristown is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Norristown differs from Pennsylvania on 15 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Norristown. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norristown
Every town around Norristown scores healthier
All five graded neighbors are ahead of Norristown’s C−, from East Norriton Township (B+) to Upper Merion Township (A+). Around town ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Norristown has no health insurance
15.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Dental care lags in Norristown
53.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Pennsylvania. Among those 65 and older, 20.4% have lost all their teeth (Pennsylvania 14.5%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Norristown
Norristown runs below Pennsylvania on cancer (5.3% vs 8.8%) and heart disease (6.2% 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 Norristown’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Norristown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norristown is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns, #937 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 40% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Norristown’s median household income is $66,701; among the 10,161 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Norristown compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 29.3% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Norristown and the towns around it
Norristown’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norristown | C− | 40.8% | 12.7% | 19.1% | CDC place |
| Bridgeport | A | 33.5% | 8.4% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| West Norriton Township | A | 30.6% | 10.1% | 13% | ZIP 19403 |
| Plymouth Township | A | 30.3% | 8.6% | 11.5% | ZIP codes |
| East Norriton Township | B+ | 34.2% | 11.1% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Upper Merion Township | A+ | 27.3% | 8.2% | 9.7% | ZIP codes |
| Swedesburg | — | — | — | — |
Swedesburg: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Keeping up with care
Share of Norristown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Out of every 100 Norristown adults…
Norristown runs below PA on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Norristown residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Norristown
1 community health center in Norristown, 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 Norristown; ≈ 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.
3.3 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
How Norristown adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Norristown 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 Norristown adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norristown
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norristown is better than Pennsylvania on 3 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Norristown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norristown | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.5%22–27.1 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.1–16.6 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17.1–21.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.8%34.4–47.3 | 33.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.7%11–14.5 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.7%30.3–37.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.3%26.1–32.9 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 27.3%24.2–30.5 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.5–6.8 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.2%6.4–8 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.4%16.8–24.3 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.1%16.7–21.5 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.8%24.6–33.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15–21.7 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.4%38.4–50.3 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.1%13.1–17.2 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.8%71.9–79.4 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.6%49.7–57.3 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%79.5–84.8 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%70.9–77.2 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%54.7–64.8 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.4%67.8–81.9 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18–24.5 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.5%30.5–38.7 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%14–17.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%16–20 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7.8%7.1–8.5 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.5–11.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.9–5.8 | 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 Norristown
Is Norristown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norristown is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #937 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norristown?
CDC estimates 40.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.4% and 47.3%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norristown?
Suburban Community Hospital in Norristown, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Norristown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norristown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.1–17.2%), 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 Norristown 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 Norristown.
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.