Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Scranton is healthier than 60%
Scranton trails Pennsylvania on 11 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Scranton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Scranton
1 in 9 working-age adults in Scranton has no health insurance
10.9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Dental care lags in Scranton
57.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Pennsylvania. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (Pennsylvania 14.5%). Checkups ↓
More Scranton adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (28.8%), vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. There are 48 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Scranton
Grades next door run from South Abington Township (A) to Taylor (D). Scranton is a C. Around town ↓
Scranton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Scranton is healthier than 27%. Against the 6,047 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 60%. 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 Scranton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Scranton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Scranton is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns, #890 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 62% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Scranton’s median household income is $50,739; among the 6,047 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 60%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Scranton 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.
48 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves
Scranton and the towns around it
Scranton’s Health Grade ranks 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton | C | 34.6% | 12.5% | 18.6% | CDC place |
| Taylor | D | 36.8% | 14.6% | 21.4% | CDC place |
| Moosic | B− | 31.8% | 12.1% | 16.4% | CDC place |
| Dunmore | A− | 30.2% | 10% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Ransom Township | A− | 30.5% | 10.6% | 13.4% | ZIP codes |
| Roaring Brook Township · Spring Brook Township | B | 32.7% | 11.4% | 16.4% | ZIP 18444 |
| South Abington Township | A | 29% | 10% | 11.9% | ZIP 18411 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Scranton adults…
Scranton runs above PA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Scranton
2 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Scranton, 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 Scranton; ≈ 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 Scranton adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Scranton runs above Pennsylvania.
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 Scranton adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Scranton
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Scranton is better than Pennsylvania on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Scranton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Scranton | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.3%20.9–26 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14–17.7 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.9–20.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.6%28.1–41.9 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.9–14.4 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.9%29.3–37 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.4%29.6–37.8 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32%28.6–35.7 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.3–8.9 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.1%8.1–10.1 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.6–21.3 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.6%16.3–21.1 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.8%24.6–33.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%14.4–21.1 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.5%36.2–49.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%9.6–12.4 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.4–81.8 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54–61.8 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.8%79–84.5 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%77–82.6 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%58.7–69 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76%68.4–82.8 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.8–28.2 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%32.6–41.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.7%14.8–18.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.6%15.7–19.7 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.8–9.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.3–7.6 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.6–11.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 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 Scranton
Is Scranton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Scranton is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #890 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 Scranton?
CDC estimates 34.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.1% and 41.9%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Scranton?
Regional Hospital of Scranton in Scranton, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Scranton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Scranton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–12.4%), 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 Scranton 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 Scranton.
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.