Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, State College is healthier than 97%
State College differs from Pennsylvania on 18 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for State College. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in State College
State College is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, State College is healthier than 66%. Against the 4,157 towns with similar household incomes ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 97%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in State College
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (27.4%), vs 16.4% across Pennsylvania. Depression is above the state too: 30.9%, vs 23% across Pennsylvania. Mind & connection ↓
Dental care lags in State College
53.5% 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 ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in State College
State College runs below Pennsylvania on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3.1% vs 8.8%), diabetes (4.6% vs 11.6%) and heart disease (3.2% vs 7.4%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%). 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 State College’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind State College’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, State College is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, #391 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). State College’s median household income is $45,424; among the 4,157 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How State College adults are doing
On 2 of 2 measures, State College 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.
Out of every 100 State College adults…
State College runs below PA on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of State College residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of State College adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Care in and near State College
No hospital or community health center in State College 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 State College; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
6.8 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
State College and the towns around it
State College’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College | B+ | 29.5% | 4.6% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| College Township | A− | 29.7% | 7.4% | 12.1% | ZIP codes |
| Ferguson Township | A | 29.9% | 8.3% | 12% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of State College adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for State College
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, State College is better than Pennsylvania on 9 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside State College’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | State College | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.4%17.2–21.7 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.6–13.5 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 27.4%25–30.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.5%23.8–35.7 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 4.6%4–5.4 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 17.4%14.9–20.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 20.6%18.1–23.4 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 13.4%11.6–15.4 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12%10.5–13.6 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.2%2.9–3.6 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5%4.4–5.6 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.7%1.6–1.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.8–21 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%11.9–15.6 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24.2%20.6–28.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 22.1%18.4–26.4 | 18.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%31.5–43.9 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%7.8–11.1 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.8%68.4–77 | 78.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.5%49.8–57.2 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 56.5%52–61.2 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 54.3%51.2–57.6 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%60.9–70.5 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%71–84.2 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.9%26.9–35.2 | 23% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35%30.9–39.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.7%22.4–27.3 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.7–6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.9%11.6–14.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 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 State College
Is State College a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, State College is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #391 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 State College?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.8% and 35.7%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to State College?
Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, 2.4 miles in a straight line from State College’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in State College have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–11.1%), 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 State College 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 State College.
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.