Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, West Penn Township is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns
West Penn Township trails Pennsylvania on 8 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 17960, 18211, 18252. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Penn Township
COPD, heart disease and arthritis run high in West Penn Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.3%), vs 7.7% across Pennsylvania. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 7.4% across Pennsylvania. Arthritis is also above the state: 37.5%, vs 30.4% across Pennsylvania. In all, West Penn Township runs above Pennsylvania on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 34% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%), and COPD, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in West Penn Township
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.2%), vs 15.8% across Pennsylvania. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around West Penn Township
Grades next door run from Heidelberg Township (A−) to Tamaqua (D). West Penn Township is a 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 West Penn Township’s likely range; West Penn Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 17960, 18211, 18252, 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 Penn Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Penn Township is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, #828 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 55% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 13%).
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 Penn Township’s median household income is $71,977; among the 10,665 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 36%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 West Penn Township adults…
West Penn Township runs above PA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
West Penn Township is an older town: 34% 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 West Penn Township as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
7.4 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
West Penn Township and the towns around it
West Penn Township’s Health Grade ranks 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Penn Township | C | 37.9% | 12.9% | 19.2% | ZIP codes |
| Walker Township | C− | 39.8% | 13% | 21.2% | ZIP 18252 |
| Lynn Township | B+ | 31.9% | 10.7% | 15.2% | ZIP codes |
| East Penn Township | B− | 34.4% | 12.1% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
| East Brunswick Township | C+ | 36.6% | 12.9% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
| Mahoning Township | B− | 34.3% | 12.1% | 18.2% | ZIP 18235 |
| Tamaqua | D | 41.4% | 13.1% | 23% | CDC place |
| Heidelberg Township | A− | 32% | 10.5% | 15.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near West Penn Township
No hospital or community health center in West Penn 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 Penn 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of West Penn Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How West Penn 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 West Penn Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Penn 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 Penn Township is better than Pennsylvania on 0 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside West Penn 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 Penn Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.3%19–23.8 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.4–17.1 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15–18.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.9%30–46.4 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11–14.9 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.1%31.6–40.7 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%32.6–42.1 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.5%33.3–41.8 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.3–11.5 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.5%12.5–19.2 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.2%16.9–21.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26%21.8–30.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.8%14.5–21.6 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.3%32.2–47 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.1%5.6–8.9 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.6%75.8–83.2 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.6%58.7–66.4 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.2–88.6 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.6%78.3–84.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.7%64.6–74.6 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%67.8–83 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21.3–29.3 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.9%31.5–40.5 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.3%15.3–19.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.2%13.4–17 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5.1–6.2 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%8.1–10 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 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 Penn Township
Is West Penn Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Penn Township is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #828 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 36%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Penn Township?
CDC estimates 37.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 30% and 46.4%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Penn Township?
St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital in Coaldale, 5.9 miles in a straight line from West Penn 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 Penn Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–8.9%), 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 West Penn 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 Penn 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.