On CDC estimates, North Wales is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
North Wales beats Pennsylvania on 10 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for North Wales. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Wales
Against towns with similar incomes, North Wales’ lead shrinks
North Wales is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, but 55% of the 4,742 towns with similar household incomes ($96K–$160K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
North Wales is an active town
Only 18.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. Habits ↓
Stroke and COPD are less common in North Wales
North Wales runs below Pennsylvania on four chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.8% vs 3.7%), COPD (6.1% vs 7.7%) and heart disease (5.9% vs 7.4%). 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 North Wales’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind North Wales’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Wales is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, #180 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 90% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 54%.
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 Wales’ median household income is $128,056; among the 4,742 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($96K–$160K), it’s healthier than 55%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 North Wales adults…
North Wales runs below PA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near North Wales
No hospital or community health center in North Wales 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 Wales; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of North Wales adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How North Wales 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 Wales and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Wales | A− | 33% | 9.3% | 14.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Wales adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Wales
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Wales is better than Pennsylvania on 10 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside North Wales’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Wales | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.2%12.5–16 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 13.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%14–17.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33%27.1–39 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8–10.7 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.3%27.1–33.8 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%28.1–35.4 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.5%26–32.9 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.9%4.6–7.3 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.4%12.5–16.4 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.5%15.4–21.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21%17.6–24.8 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%31.4–42.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.2%4–6.7 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.8%73–80.3 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.7%66.4–72.9 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%86.5–90.4 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.4%72.9–79.7 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.4%65.9–74.7 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.6%73.8–86.1 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.1%18.8–25.5 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.1%21.7–28.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12%10.6–13.5 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.4–4 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.6–7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–2.9 | 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 North Wales
Is North Wales a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Wales is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #180 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 55%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Wales?
CDC estimates 33% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.1% and 39%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Wales?
Jefferson Lansdale Hospital in Lansdale, 2.8 miles in a straight line from North Wales’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Wales have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4–6.7%), 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 Wales 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 North Wales.
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.