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≈ BHealth Grade
Health in Sandy Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Sandy Township is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns

Sandy Township trails Pennsylvania on 3 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 15801, 15824. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Sandy Township

Cancer and arthritis run high in Sandy Township

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 8.8% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (35.3%), vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓

Sandy Township is the healthiest of the towns around it

Its B tops all seven graded neighbors. The closest is Brady Township (C+). Around town ↓

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 Sandy Township’s likely range; Sandy Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 15801, 15824, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Sandy Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sandy Township is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns, #492 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 74% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 36%).

BSelf-rated health18.8% · PA 18.7% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.7% · PA 13.2% · U.S. 13%
B+Mental distress15.6% · PA 16.4% · U.S. 15.9%
BObesity34.1% · PA 33.8% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes11.8% · PA 11.6% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking16.2% smoke · PA 15.8% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise24.1% · PA 23.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 59%
Less healthyHealthier
Pennsylvania towns we grade (1,035)Healthier than 52%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $60K–$99K (10,775)Healthier than 64%

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). Sandy Township’s median household income is $79,365; among the 10,775 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$99K), it’s healthier than 64%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Sandy Township could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 15801,15824), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Around town

Sandy Township and the towns around it

Sandy Township has the best Health Grade of the 8 graded towns around it.

Brady Township: 36%Huston Township: 36.7%Falls Creek: 35.6%Washington Township: 36.1%Snyder Township: 35.3%Winslow Township: 37%Union Township: 35.6%Horton Township: 38.3%Bloom Township: 35.6%Henderson Township: 36.6%Bell Township: 37.6%Lawrence Township: 36.9%Fox Township: 37.5%Pine Township: 36.6%Warsaw Township: 35.1%Pine Creek Township: 34.3%Polk Township: 36%Sykesville: 35.1%McCalmont Township: 36.9%Ridgway Township: 39.2%Spring Creek Township: 38.5%Sandy Township: 34.1%Sandy TownshipBrady TownshipHuston TownshipFalls CreekWashington TownshipSnyder TownshipWinslow TownshipUnion TownshipHorton TownshipPenn Highlands Dubois · Dubois · 3.3 mi · 2★ MedicareHPunxsutawney Area Hospital · Punxsutawney · 19.1 mi · 2★ MedicareHPenn Highlands Elk · Saint Marys · 20.9 mi · 4★ MedicareHFox Township Dental Clinic · Kersey · 15.8 mi+Punxsutawney Community Health Center · Punxsutawney · 18.4 mi+
Healthier than PANear PALess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#1 of 22 towns on this map, healthiest first
Sandy Township34.1%
Snyder Township35.3%
Falls Creek35.6%
Union Township35.6%
Brady Township36%
Washington Township36.1%
Huston Township36.7%
Winslow Township37%
Horton Township38.3%
PA33.8%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Sandy TownshipB34.1%11.8%16.2%ZIP codes
Brady TownshipC+36%12.2%18.7%ZIP codes
Huston TownshipC36.7%12.8%19.5%ZIP codes
Falls CreekC35.6%12.2%20.2%CDC place
Washington TownshipC36.1%12.8%20.2%ZIP codes
Winslow TownshipC−37%13.1%21.9%ZIP 15851
Snyder TownshipC+35.3%12.3%18.4%ZIP codes
Horton TownshipC+38.3%12.2%18.9%ZIP codes

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Sandy Township adults…

Sandy Township runs above PA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Sandy Township adults have had cancer
Pennsylvania: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 9.4–11.5%
Better than PAWorseAbout the samePennsylvania
Why age matters here

Sandy Township is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Sandy Township as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Sandy Township28%
Pennsylvania20%
Getting care

Care in and near Sandy Township

No hospital or community health center in Sandy Township itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERPenn Highlands DuboisDubois · 3.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyPenn Highlands Brookville★★★★★ · 19.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careKeystone Rural Health ConsortiaKersey · 15.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3.3 mi
Penn Highlands Dubois
Dubois · ★★★★★
ER
15.8 mi
Keystone Rural Health Consortia
4 sites · nearest in Kersey
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
18.4 mi
Primary Health Network
3 sites · nearest in Punxsutawney
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
19 mi
Penn Highlands Brookville
Brookville · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
19.1 mi
Punxsutawney Area Hospital
Punxsutawney · ★★★★★
ER
20.9 mi
Penn Highlands Elk
Saint Marys · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careSandy Township is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Sandy Township itself
✓ Mental healthSandy Township is not a shortage area

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 Sandy 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania

Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.

Get no exercise 24.1%PA 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 37.6%PA 37.9%
Binge drink 17.8%PA 18.3%
Smoke cigarettes 16.2%PA 15.8%
0%10%20%30%40%
Sandy Township, betterSandy Township, worseAbout the samePennsylvania
Where Sandy Township gets moving

32 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Sandy Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.

80%Yearly checkupPA 79%
66%Dentist visitPA 64%
86%Cholesterol checkPA 85%
68%Colon screeningPA 68%
76%MammogramPA 78%
82%Taking BP medsPA 79%
1 in 16
working-age adults has no health insurance
Sandy Township 6.4% · Pennsylvania 1 in 17 (5.8%)
Mind & connection

How Sandy Township adults are doing

About the same as Pennsylvania on each measure.

1 in 4Sandy Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.8% · PA 23% · About the same as PA
1 in 6Sandy Township adults are in frequent mental distress
15.6% · PA 16.4% · About the same as PA
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

33.1%

of Sandy Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs15.3%
Thinking or memory13.7%
Hearing9%
Errands alone8.2%
Vision5%
Dressing or bathing3.7%
Pennsylvania

Every CDC estimate for Sandy Township

Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sandy Township is better than Pennsylvania on 0 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Sandy Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Sandy TownshipPAU.S.vs PA
Overall health
Fair or poor health18.8%16.7–2118.7%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.7%12.1–15.413.2%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15.6%14–17.416.4%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity34.1%27.1–41.733.8%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.8%10.2–13.611.6%12%About the same
High blood pressure36%31.7–40.332.8%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.3%31.6–40.933.8%37.1%About the same
Arthritis35.3%31.4–39.230.4%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.5%9.2–11.910.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10.4%9.4–11.58.8%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease8.5%7.7–9.47.4%6.4%Worse
COPD8.6%7.7–9.67.7%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.9%3.6–4.33.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)14.3%11.6–17.314.5%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.2%14.1–18.415.8%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work24.1%20.2–28.123.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking17.8%14.6–21.318.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours37.6%30.9–44.637.9%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6.4%5.3–7.65.8%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year79.7%76.2–8378.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year65.5%61.9–69.164.4%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.4%84.1–88.585.3%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)82.1%79–84.879.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)68.1%63.1–72.867.5%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)76.3%68.6–82.877.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression22.8%19.4–26.423%20.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability33.1%29–37.331.3%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs15.3%13.6–17.314.2%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering13.7%12.2–15.314.1%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty9%8–10.17.6%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty5%4.6–5.55.1%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.2%7.4–9.18.2%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.7%3.4–43.7%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 Sandy Township

Is Sandy Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sandy Township is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #492 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 64%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Sandy Township?

CDC estimates 34.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.1% and 41.7%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Sandy Township?

Penn Highlands Dubois in Dubois, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Sandy Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.

How many people in Sandy Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–7.6%), 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 Sandy Township 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 Sandy Township.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.