Photo: Jakec · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Union Township is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns
Union Township differs from Pennsylvania on 5 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 17967, 17985. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Union Township
Arthritis, cancer and COPD run high in Union Township
37.2% of adults have arthritis, vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.6%), vs 8.8% across Pennsylvania. COPD is also above the state: 9.2%, vs 7.7% across Pennsylvania. In all, Union Township runs above Pennsylvania on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%), and arthritis, cancer and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Union Township is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its B− tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is East Union 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 Union Township’s likely range; Union Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 17967, 17985, 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 Union Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union Township is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 66% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). Union Township’s median household income is $85,379; among the 10,371 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Union Township compares well: lost all teeth (ages 65+), 9.5% (U.S. 12.3%).
Out of every 100 Union Township adults…
Union Township runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Union Township is an older town: 28% 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 Union Township as about how healthy they are.
Union Township and the towns around it
Union Township has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Township | B− | 37.7% | 12.4% | 17.8% | ZIP codes |
| East Union Township | C+ | 38.5% | 12.9% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
| Roaring Creek Township | — | — | — | — | |
| North Union Township | C | 39% | 13.9% | 19.1% | ZIP codes |
| West Mahanoy Township | C− | 40.8% | 13.3% | 20.5% | ZIP codes |
Roaring Creek Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Union Township
No hospital or community health center in Union 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 Union 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
1.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Union Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How Union 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 Union Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Union Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Union Township is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Union Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Union Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.9%16.7–21.4 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.4–15.9 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.4–18 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.7%29.9–46 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.4%10.6–14.3 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.9%32.3–41.5 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%32.5–42.3 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.2%32.9–41.6 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–12.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.6%9.6–11.9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.9–9.9 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.2%8.1–10.3 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.5%7.6–11.9 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8%15.6–20.4 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.9%19.9–28.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.5–21.7 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.7%31.7–46.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.7%5.3–8.3 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%76.5–83.7 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.4%61.5–69.2 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%84.5–88.9 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.1%78.6–84.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%65.6–75.5 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%70.4–84.7 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%20.8–28.6 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.6%29.2–38.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.7–17.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12.2–15.6 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%7.9–10.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.2–8.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 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 Union Township
Is Union Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union Township is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Union Township?
CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.9% and 46%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Union Township?
Schuylkill Medical Center - South Jackson Street in Pottsville, 12.2 miles in a straight line from Union Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Union Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–8.3%), 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 Union 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 Union 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.