Photo: Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Pittsburgh is healthier than 88%
Pittsburgh differs from Pennsylvania on 11 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pittsburgh. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pittsburgh is healthier than 67%. Against the 10,055 towns with similar household incomes ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 88%. Health Grade ↓
Pittsburgh has nine hospitals within its borders
9 hospitals and 5 community health centers are inside Pittsburgh. UPMC Mercy is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Health varies a lot right around Pittsburgh
Grades next door run from Ross Township (A) to Wilkinsburg (C−). Pittsburgh is a B+. Around town ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh runs below Pennsylvania on four chronic conditions, most of all cancer (6.5% vs 8.8%), heart disease (5.8% vs 7.4%) 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 Pittsburgh’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Pittsburgh’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pittsburgh is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #370 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 79% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 40%).
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). Pittsburgh’s median household income is $65,742; among the 10,055 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 88%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 307,632 residents, Pittsburgh is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Pittsburgh
9 hospitals and 5 community health centers in Pittsburgh.
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 Pittsburgh; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Pittsburgh adults…
Pittsburgh runs below PA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Pittsburgh and the towns around it
Pittsburgh’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | B+ | 31.8% | 10.1% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Baldwin | B+ | 29.7% | 11.1% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Penn Hills | — | — | — | — | |
| Ross Township | A | 29.4% | 9.9% | 12.8% | ZIP codes |
| Baldwin Township | A− | 29.9% | 10.1% | 14% | ZIP codes |
| Green Tree | A | 28.9% | 10% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Reserve Township | B− | 34.7% | 11.8% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Crafton | A− | 30.9% | 10.1% | 13.3% | CDC place |
Penn Hills: no CDC estimate of its own. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
118 miles of trails across 140 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Pittsburgh adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pittsburgh
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pittsburgh is better than Pennsylvania on 8 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Pittsburgh’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pittsburgh | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.5%16.6–20.4 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%11.2–14 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.9–19.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.8%27.8–35.9 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.1%8.8–11.4 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.3%26.1–30.5 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.2%26.7–31.7 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.8%23.5–28.2 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.8–7.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%13.2–18.6 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%13.1–16.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.8%19.9–25.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.1%17.3–23 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%33.3–41.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%6.2–8 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%73–79.3 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61%57.8–64.1 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.2%77.7–82.6 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.8–79.4 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.1%61.8–70 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.1%73.2–84.2 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%21–26.8 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.4%27.3–33.5 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.6%11.2–14 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.3%13.7–17 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.8–9.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Pittsburgh
Is Pittsburgh a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pittsburgh is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #370 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 Pittsburgh?
CDC estimates 31.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.8% and 35.9%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pittsburgh?
UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Pittsburgh’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pittsburgh have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–8%), 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh.
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.