Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Rhode Island, Providence is healthier than 8% of graded towns
Providence differs from Rhode Island on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Providence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Providence
Making ends meet is harder in Providence
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.4%), vs 15.1% across Rhode Island. Housing insecurity (22.6% vs 13.1%) and no reliable transportation (13.4% vs 7.9%) are higher too. 23.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Providence adults lack emotional support
1 in 4 adults lack social or emotional support (26.6%), vs 22% across Rhode Island. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.6%, vs 16.7% across Rhode Island. Mind & connection ↓
Providence is behind on routine checkups
It trails Rhode Island on four of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (81% vs 84.1%), dentist visits (61.4% vs 71.2%), cholesterol checks (84.7% vs 89.1%) and colon screening (65.5% vs 73.2%). Checkups ↓
Providence has five hospitals within its borders
5 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Providence. Rhode Island Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Rhode Island figure falls outside Providence’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind Providence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Providence is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns, #35 of 38 in Rhode Island. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 74% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Providence’s median household income is $68,119; among the 10,339 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 55%, about where its income would put it.
Where Providence compares well: high blood pressure, 29.3% (U.S. 34.4%); high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 29.5% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 18.8% (U.S. 25.3%).
At 195,310 residents, Providence is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.6% of Providence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.2% across Rhode Island.
How Providence adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Providence runs above Rhode Island.
2 in 5 Providence adults feel lonely. 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Providence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Rhode Island.
Care in and near Providence
5 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Providence.
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 Providence; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Providence adults…
Providence runs below RI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Providence residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Rhode Island. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Rhode Island
Share of adults, with the Rhode Island figure marked.
28 miles of trails across 77 parks and preserves
Providence and the towns around it
Providence’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | C+ | 34.4% | 11.5% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| East Providence | B− | 32.4% | 11.7% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Johnston | B | 31.8% | 11.2% | 11.9% | ZIP 02919 |
| Cranston | B+ | 31.2% | 10.7% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| North Providence | B | 33% | 11.4% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Pawtucket | C | 35.6% | 12.2% | 14.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Providence adults live with a disability (Rhode Island 27.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Providence
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Providence is better than Rhode Island on 7 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Rhode Island figure falls inside Providence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Providence | RI | U.S. | vs RI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%20–23.9 | 17.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.8–15.4 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.8–21.4 | 16.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%29.7–39.3 | 31.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%10.4–12.7 | 11.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.3%26.8–31.8 | 33.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.5%26.9–32.2 | 34.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 18.8%17.1–20.6 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.4%11.2–13.6 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.7–5.6 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%5.1–6.2 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12.6–17.2 | 14.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%10.8–13.6 | 11.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.8%28.5–35.3 | 25.4% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%14.6–18.9 | 16.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%35.2–44.3 | 35% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.6%12.9–16.3 | 8.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%78.2–83.6 | 84.1% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.4%58.1–64.6 | 71.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.9–86.4 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72%69.7–74.3 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%61.6–69.1 | 73.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.7%78.2–86.6 | 82.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%20.3–25.8 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.7%37.2–44.4 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.6%23.9–29.7 | 22% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.4%25.2–29.6 | 15.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.6%20.6–24.8 | 13.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.5%12.1–15 | 8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%12.1–14.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.6%21.3–26.1 | 13.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.4%28.5–34.4 | 27.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%11.7–14.2 | 12.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%16.2–19.5 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6 | 6.5% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.9%6.4–7.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.9–10.6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%4–4.6 | 3.5% | 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 Rhode Island figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Providence
Is Providence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Providence is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #35 of 38 in Rhode Island. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 55%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Providence?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 39.3%, against 31.7% across Rhode Island and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Providence?
Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Providence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Providence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.9–16.3%), against 8.2% across Rhode Island.
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 Providence more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Providence.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Rhode Island 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.