Photo: Dincher · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, West Buffalo Township is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns
West Buffalo Township trails Pennsylvania on 4 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 17844, 17856. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Buffalo Township
COPD and heart disease run high in West Buffalo Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.6%), vs 7.7% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 7.4% across Pennsylvania. Conditions ↓
1 in 13 working-age adults in West Buffalo Township has no health insurance
7.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
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 West Buffalo Township’s likely range; West Buffalo Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 17844, 17856, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind West Buffalo Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Buffalo Township is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns, #774 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 60% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). West Buffalo Township’s median household income is $79,095; among the 10,790 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$99K), it’s healthier than 35%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 West Buffalo Township adults…
West Buffalo Township runs above PA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Buffalo Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Care in and near West Buffalo Township
No hospital or community health center in West Buffalo 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 West Buffalo 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.
22 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How West Buffalo 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.
West Buffalo Township and the towns around it
West Buffalo Township’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Buffalo Township | C+ | 34.9% | 11.8% | 18.9% | ZIP codes |
| White Deer Township | C− | 36% | 13.3% | 20.2% | ZIP codes |
| Mifflinburg | B | 33.5% | 10.4% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Limestone Township | B− | 34.4% | 11.3% | 18.5% | ZIP codes |
| Buffalo Township | B+ | 31.6% | 10.1% | 14.6% | ZIP codes |
| Lewis Township | C+ | 34.6% | 11.8% | 19.1% | ZIP codes |
| Washington Township | C+ | 39.5% | 11% | 21.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Buffalo Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Buffalo Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Buffalo Township is better than Pennsylvania on 0 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside West Buffalo Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Buffalo Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.7%18.4–23.1 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.2–16.8 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.1–20 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.9%27.3–42.6 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.1–13.6 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.6%29.2–38.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%30.5–40.3 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.5%30.4–38.5 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.7–10.7 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.6%8.5–10.7 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.5–17.4 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%16.6–21.5 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.8%21.5–30.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18%14.6–21.6 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%30.5–44.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.3–9.2 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%73.9–81.5 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.9%57.9–65.8 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%81.5–86.9 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%77–83.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.4%61.1–71.5 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.4%67.4–82.3 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%21.6–29.6 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.7%30.3–39 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.3–18.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14.1–17.8 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8–10.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.4–10.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.5 | 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 West Buffalo Township
Is West Buffalo Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Buffalo Township is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #774 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 35%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Buffalo Township?
CDC estimates 34.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.3% and 42.6%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Buffalo Township?
Wellspan Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, 9.4 miles in a straight line from West Buffalo Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Buffalo Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–9.2%), 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 West Buffalo Township 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 West Buffalo 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.