Steelton High School · Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ. M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Swatara Township is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns
Swatara Township differs from Pennsylvania on 2 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 17111, 17113, 17104, 17036. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Swatara Township
1 in 12 working-age adults in Swatara Township has no health insurance
8.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Swatara Township
Grades next door run from South Hanover Township (A) to Steelton (D). Swatara Township is a B. 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 Swatara Township’s likely range; Swatara Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 17111, 17113, 17104, 17036, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Swatara Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Swatara Township is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #548 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 69% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 36%).
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). Swatara Township’s median household income is $80,444; among the 10,723 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$101K), it’s healthier than 57%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Swatara Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Swatara Township and the towns around it
Swatara Township’s Health Grade ranks 8th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swatara Township | B | 33.5% | 12.2% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
| Steelton | D | 41% | 14.7% | 22.5% | CDC place |
| Fairview Township | B | 34.8% | 11% | 16.7% | ZIP codes |
| Lower Swatara Township | B | 32.3% | 10.9% | 15.7% | ZIP codes |
| South Hanover Township | A | 28.8% | 9.3% | 11.3% | ZIP codes |
| Paxtang | B | 33.8% | 11.4% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Lower Paxton Township | A− | 31.1% | 10.9% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| New Cumberland | B | 36.4% | 11% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Swatara Township adults…
Swatara Township runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Swatara Township
No hospital or community health center in Swatara Township 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 Swatara 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.
2.1 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
How Swatara 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Swatara Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Swatara Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Swatara Township is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Swatara Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Swatara Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.7%17.5–21.9 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.6–14.7 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.6–18.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.5%26.9–39.9 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.5–14.1 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.5%29.6–37.5 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.8%29.5–38.4 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.4%25.8–32.8 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.4 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.1%6.4–8 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.4–3.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.7%10.3–15.3 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%14.1–18.4 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.4%21.4–29.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.6%13.5–20 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.1%35.5–48.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.6%7.5–9.9 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%75.7–82.8 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.1%58.4–65.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.1–87.9 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%76.6–82.7 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%62.3–72.1 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%72.4–85.4 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%18.9–25.9 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.1%27.2–35.2 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%12.7–16.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.3%12.7–16 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.5–9.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.7–4.3 | 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 Swatara Township
Is Swatara Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Swatara Township is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #548 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Swatara Township?
CDC estimates 33.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.9% and 39.9%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Swatara Township?
UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals in Harrisburg, 3.1 miles in a straight line from Swatara Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Swatara Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–9.9%), 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 Swatara 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 Swatara 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.