Photo: Jakec · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, North Union Township is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns
North Union Township differs from Pennsylvania on 13 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 17985, 18202. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Union Township
COPD, heart disease and arthritis run high in North Union Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.3%), vs 7.7% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.8%), vs 7.4% across Pennsylvania. Arthritis is also above the state: 39.7%, vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. In all, North Union Township runs above Pennsylvania on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%), and COPD, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in North Union Township, and more people treating it
39.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Pennsylvania 32.8%), but 83% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in North Union Township
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.1%), vs 15.8% across Pennsylvania. Habits ↓
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 North Union Township’s likely range; North Union Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 17985, 18202, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind North Union Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Union Township is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 68% 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). North Union Township’s median household income is $71,250; among the 10,615 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$89K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where North Union Township compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 North Union Township adults…
North Union Township runs above PA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
North Union Township is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in North Union Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of North Union Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
2.7 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves
Care in and near North Union Township
No hospital or community health center in North Union Township 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 North Union Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How North Union 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.
North Union Township and the towns around it
North Union Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Union Township | C | 39% | 13.9% | 19.1% | ZIP codes |
| Union Township | B− | 37.7% | 12.4% | 17.8% | ZIP codes |
| East Union Township | C+ | 38.5% | 12.9% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
| Beaver Township | — | — | — | — |
Beaver Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Union Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Union Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Union Township is better than Pennsylvania on 2 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside North Union Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Union Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.3%19.1–23.7 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.7–17.3 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.4–17.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39%31.6–46.8 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12.1–16 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.3%34.9–43.9 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%34.7–43.9 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 39.7%35.6–43.9 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–12 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%10.1–12.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.8%8.9–10.9 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.1–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15%12.2–18.1 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.1%16.8–21.6 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.6%22.5–31.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%13.8–20.3 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.4%32.7–46.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.2%5.8–9.2 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.7%77.4–83.9 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63%59.3–66.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%86–89.7 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83%79.9–85.7 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.2%66.3–75.7 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%68.1–82.6 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%20.2–27.5 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%31.9–40.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.7%15.7–19.9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%13–16.2 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.9–11.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.9–9.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.8 | 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 North Union Township
Is North Union Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Union Township is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Union Township?
CDC estimates 39% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 46.8%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Union Township?
Lehigh Valley Hospital - Hazleton in Hazleton, 12.9 miles in a straight line from North Union Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Union Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–9.2%), 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 North Union Township 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 North Union 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.