Photo: Montgomery County Planning Commission · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Upper Merion Township is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns
Upper Merion Township differs from Pennsylvania on 21 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 19406, 19087, 19428, 19405. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Upper Merion Township
COPD and stroke are less common in Upper Merion Township
Upper Merion Township runs below Pennsylvania on nine chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.3% vs 7.7%), stroke (2.3% vs 3.7%) and heart disease (5% vs 7.4%). A young population is part of it: only 16% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%). Conditions ↓
Upper Merion Township is an active town
Only 16% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. The town has 21 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Few Upper Merion Township adults smoke
9.7% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 15.8% across Pennsylvania. Habits ↓
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 Upper Merion Township’s likely range; Upper Merion Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 19406, 19087, 19428, 19405, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Upper Merion Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Upper Merion Township is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, #14 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than almost every town); the weakest is smoking, still better than 89%.
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). Upper Merion Township’s median household income is $121,985; among the 5,454 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($91K–$152K), it’s healthier than 97%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Upper Merion Township adults…
Upper Merion Township runs below PA on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
21 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Care in and near Upper Merion Township
No hospital or community health center in Upper Merion 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 Upper Merion Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Upper Merion Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How Upper Merion Township adults are doing
On 2 of 2 measures, Upper Merion Township does better than 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.
Upper Merion Township and the towns around it
Upper Merion Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Merion Township | A+ | 27.3% | 8.2% | 9.7% | ZIP codes |
| King of Prussia | — | — | — | — | |
| Tredyffrin Township | A+ | 26.7% | 8.8% | 8.3% | ZIP codes |
| West Norriton Township | A | 30.6% | 10.1% | 13% | ZIP 19403 |
| Schuylkill Township | A | 30.1% | 8.6% | 10.9% | ZIP 19460 |
| Swedeland | — | — | — | — | |
| Bridgeport | A | 33.5% | 8.4% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Plymouth Township | A | 30.3% | 8.6% | 11.5% | ZIP codes |
King of Prussia and Swedeland: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Upper Merion Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Upper Merion Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Upper Merion Township is better than Pennsylvania on 20 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Upper Merion Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Upper Merion Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.5%10.1–12.9 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.9%7.8–10 | 13.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.7–14.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.3%22.4–32.5 | 33.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.2%7–9.3 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.7%23.7–29.8 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.7%26.5–33.2 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.5–27.2 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.9–8.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.4–5.5 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.5%5.1–8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.7%8.5–11 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16%13.4–18.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20.1%16.9–23.6 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35%29.8–40.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.9%4.1–5.7 | 5.8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%72.9–80 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.1%70–76 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.6%85.5–89.5 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.8%71.5–77.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.9%65.3–74.1 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.8%74.5–86 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.9%16.2–22 | 23% | 20.6% | Better |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.1%18.3–24.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.7%8.6–10.8 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.6–5.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2%1.8–2.2 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Upper Merion Township
Is Upper Merion Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Upper Merion Township is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #14 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 97%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Upper Merion Township?
CDC estimates 27.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.4% and 32.5%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Upper Merion Township?
Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital in East Norriton, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Upper Merion Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Upper Merion Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.1–5.7%), 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 Upper Merion Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Upper Merion 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.