Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Salem Township is healthier than 67%
Salem Township differs from Pennsylvania on 9 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 18436, 18444. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem Township
Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run high in Salem Township
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.6%), vs 7.4% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.9%), vs 7.7% across Pennsylvania. Arthritis is also above the state: 37.7%, vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. In all, Salem Township runs above Pennsylvania on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%), and heart disease, COPD and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Salem Township, and more people treating it
37.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Pennsylvania 32.8%), but 82.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Salem Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Salem Township is healthier than 45%. Against the 9,322 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 67%. Health Grade ↓
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 Salem Township’s likely range; Salem Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 18436, 18444, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Salem Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem Township is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns, #704 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 71% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Salem Township’s median household income is $61,659; among the 9,322 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 67%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Salem Township compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Salem Township adults…
Salem Township runs above PA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Salem Township is an older town: 27% 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 Salem Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Care in and near Salem Township
1 community health center in Salem Township, 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 Salem Township; ≈ 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.
2.8 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Salem 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.
Salem Township and the towns around it
Salem Township’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Township | C+ | 34.2% | 13.2% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Sterling Township | C+ | 34.7% | 13.3% | 17.9% | ZIP codes |
| Greene Township | C+ | 35.2% | 13.9% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Lake Wallenpaupack Estates | — | — | — | — | |
| Indian Rocks | — | — | — | — | |
| Jefferson Township | B− | 34.1% | 13.1% | 17.4% | ZIP codes |
| Paupack Township | B− | 33.6% | 13.4% | 16.1% | ZIP codes |
| The Escape | — | — | — | — |
Lake Wallenpaupack Estates, Indian Rocks and The Escape: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salem Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salem Township is better than Pennsylvania on 2 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Salem Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salem Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.5%18.6–22.6 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.6–16.6 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.3–17.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.2%27.9–40.5 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.6–14.9 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%33.5–41.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.8–42 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.7%34.1–41.2 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.5–11.8 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%10–11.9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.8–10.5 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.9%8.9–10.9 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.7%10.5–15.2 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%15.7–19.6 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.8%22.2–29.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.3–19.9 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.6%32.8–44.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.8–7.9 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.4–83.2 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.3%61–67.5 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.8%86.1–89.5 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.9%80.2–85.4 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70%65.8–73.9 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%72–83.8 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%20.1–26.4 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.6%30.9–38.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17%15.3–18.9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.7–15.5 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.7%8.8–10.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%5–5.9 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.9–9.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 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 Salem Township
Is Salem Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem Township is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #704 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 Salem Township?
CDC estimates 34.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.9% and 40.5%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salem Township?
Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, 13.7 miles in a straight line from Salem Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Salem Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–7.9%), 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 Salem Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Salem 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.