On CDC estimates, West Hanover Township is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
West Hanover Township beats Pennsylvania on 10 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 17112, 17036, 17111. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Hanover Township
West Hanover Township is an older town
28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Conditions like heart disease and arthritis become more common with age, so keep that in mind when comparing West Hanover Township with the state. Conditions ↓
West Hanover Township is an active town
Only 20% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. The town has 11 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves. 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 West Hanover Township’s likely range; West Hanover Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 17112, 17036, 17111, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind West Hanover Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Hanover Township is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #152 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 88% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 67%.
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 Hanover Township’s median household income is $89,183; among the 10,049 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$111K), it’s healthier than 91%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 West Hanover Township adults…
West Hanover Township runs below PA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
West Hanover Township is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Many conditions rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in West Hanover Township as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near West Hanover Township
No hospital or community health center in West Hanover 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 Hanover Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Hanover Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How West Hanover Township adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, West Hanover 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.
West Hanover Township and the towns around it
West Hanover Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Hanover Township | A | 30.2% | 10.3% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Lower Paxton Township | A− | 31.1% | 10.9% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| Middle Paxton Township | A | 29.9% | 10.3% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| South Hanover Township | A | 28.8% | 9.3% | 11.3% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Hanover Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Hanover 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 Hanover Township is better than Pennsylvania on 10 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside West Hanover 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 Hanover Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.7%13–16.6 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.9–12.7 | 13.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.8–16 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.2%23.9–36.5 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.3%8.9–11.9 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.1%28.2–36.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%30.5–39.8 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.5%26.8–34.2 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.4–10.3 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.4 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.7–7.1 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.9%7.1–11 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%11.3–14.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20%16.6–23.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%14.8–21.6 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.7%31.4–43.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.7–6.4 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80%76.4–83.3 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.6%67.2–73.8 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.3–90.2 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%77.1–83.4 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.3%67.5–76.5 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.9%73.9–86.4 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.1–26.2 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.8%23.2–30.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.2 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.7–7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3 | 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 West Hanover Township
Is West Hanover Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Hanover Township is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #152 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 91%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Hanover Township?
CDC estimates 30.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.9% and 36.5%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Hanover Township?
Milton S Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, 8.2 miles in a straight line from West Hanover 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 Hanover Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–6.4%), 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 Hanover Township 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 West Hanover 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.