Health · Palmyra
Palmyra, ME health
Palmyra differs from Maine on 27 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (12.9% vs 15.5%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing food insecurity (20.1% vs 10.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP code 04965 (all of Palmyra)TownTapestry Health GradeNew
D−
Palmyra’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Palmyra is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthD-Physical distressD-Mental distressC-ObesityDDiabetesD-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 4%
Less healthyHealthier
Maine towns we grade (276)Healthier than 1%
Towns with similar incomes, $45K–$76K (8,352)Healthier than 4%
About what its income would suggest. Palmyra does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Palmyra could be anywhere from D− to C−.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Maine ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Palmyra with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Palmyra’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Palmyra compares with Maine
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
40.2% have obesity
0 better1 close11 worse
Habits
33.6% get no exercise
1 better0 close3 worse
Care & screenings
82.7% had a checkup
0 better2 close5 worse
Mind & connection
35.4% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
20.1% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
43.7% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Palmyra adults…
43 of every 100 Palmyra adults have high blood pressure
Maine: 36 in 100 · worse · margin 39.4–46.2%
Bars show Palmyra; the black tick is Maine. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Palmyra, betterPalmyra, worseToo close to callMaine
Get no exerciseshare of adults
33.6% Palmyra
ME 23.1%
ME 23.1%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
40.3% Palmyra
ME 32.8%
ME 32.8%
Binge drinkshare of adults
12.9% Palmyra
ME 15.5%
ME 15.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
24.8% Palmyra
ME 14.4%
ME 14.4%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Palmyra adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Yearly checkup
ME 81%Dentist visit
ME 64%Cholesterol check
ME 87%Colon screening
ME 71%Mammogram
ME 80%Taking BP meds
ME 76%1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Palmyra 11.4% · Maine 1 in 13 (7.8%)
Mind & connection
How Palmyra adults are doing
1 in 3Palmyra adults feel lonely
35.4% · Maine 32% · too close to call
1 in 3Palmyra adults have been diagnosed with depression
30.6% · Maine 26.9% · worse
1 in 4Palmyra adults lack social or emotional support
24.9% · Maine 22.7% · too close to call
1 in 5Palmyra adults are in frequent mental distress
21.8% · Maine 17.7% · worse
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 5
Palmyra adults worry about having enough food
20.1% · ME 10.7% · worse
1 in 6
Palmyra adults worry about keeping their housing
15.4% · ME 9.8% · worse
1 in 7
Palmyra adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
13.4% · ME 7.4% · worse
1 in 8
Palmyra adults lack reliable transportation
12.6% · ME 7.8% · worse
30.7% of Palmyra adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Disability
Living with a disability
43.7%
of Palmyra adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs22.4%
Thinking or memory21.6%
Hearing11.7%
Errands alone13.4%
Vision7.9%
Dressing or bathing6.6%
Black tick: Maine. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Around Palmyra
Palmyra and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Palmyra.
33.2%41%· darker is worse for health
Obesity
#13 of 15towns on this map, healthiest first
Hartland35.3%
St. Albans37.1%
Pittsfield38%
Newport38.3%
Palmyra40.2%
Detroit40.3%
Care nearby
Northern Light Sebasticook Valley HospitalPittsfield · 3.6 mi · ★★★★★ · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Redington Fairview General HospitalSkowhegan · 17.9 mi · ★★★★★ · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Northern Light Mayo HospitalDover Foxcroft · 24.6 mi · ★★★★★ · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
St. Joseph HospitalBangor · 29.3 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Sebasticook Family Doctors - DexterDexter · 13.2 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
Katahdin Valley Health Center CorinthCorinth · 20.4 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
! Primary carePalmyra is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Newport · need score 14 of 25
! Dental carePalmyra is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Newport · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthPalmyra's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Somerset County · need score 18 of 25
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Palmyra. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Palmyra
| Measure | Palmyra | Margin | Maine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 42.8% | 39.4–46.2% | 35.7% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 42.7% | 39.4–46% | 37.4% | worse |
| Obesity | 40.2% | 35.3–45.3% | 32.7% | worse |
| Arthritis | 38.8% | 35.8–42% | 32% | worse |
| Depression | 30.6% | 27.5–34.1% | 26.9% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 22.1% | 18.6–25.8% | 14.8% | worse |
| Asthma | 14.5% | 12.9–16.2% | 12.6% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10% | 9–11.1% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 16.5% | 14.4–18.7% | 11.2% | worse |
| COPD | 15% | 12.8–17.6% | 8.4% | worse |
| Heart disease | 11.2% | 9.9–12.7% | 7.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.5% | 4.8–6.3% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.8% | 20.7–29.2% | 14.4% | worse |
| Binge drink | 12.9% | 10.9–15% | 15.5% | better |
| Get no exercise | 33.6% | 29–38.8% | 23.1% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.3% | 36–44.9% | 32.8% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82.7% | 80–85.1% | 81.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 49.1% | 45.9–52.5% | 63.8% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 84.5% | 82–86.7% | 87.1% | worse |
| Colon screening | 66.2% | 62.2–70.1% | 70.5% | worse |
| Mammogram | 73.2% | 66.8–78.7% | 80.3% | worse |
| Taking BP meds | 77.2% | 74.4–79.7% | 76.4% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 8.7–14.4% | 7.8% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35.4% | 31.5–39.5% | 32% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.9% | 21.4–28.6% | 22.7% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 21.8% | 19.3–24.5% | 17.7% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 29.5% | 25.4–34.2% | 18.7% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 20.4% | 17.8–23.2% | 14.3% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 20.1% | 16.1–24.3% | 10.7% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 15.4% | 12.8–18.3% | 9.8% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 13.4% | 11.3–15.7% | 7.4% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 12.6% | 10.6–14.8% | 7.8% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 30.7% | 25.4–36% | 14.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.7% | 39.1–48.8% | 32.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 22.4% | 19.2–25.8% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 21.6% | 18.6–24.9% | 15.5% | |
| Hearing | 11.7% | 10.4–13.1% | 8.4% | |
| Vision | 7.9% | 6.7–9.2% | 4.4% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.6% | 5.6–7.8% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 13.4% | 11.4–15.7% | 8.1% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Palmyra door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Maine figure falls inside it, we don't call Palmyra better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Palmyra by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Palmyra by how much of its land each one covers.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maine figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.