Health · Forest
Forest, OH health
On most measures Forest looks like Ohio as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (19.2% vs 15.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for ForestTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Forest’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Forest is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, and than 48% of towns with similar incomes.
B-Self-rated healthC+Physical distressC-Mental distressC-ObesityC+DiabetesC-SmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 26%
Less healthyHealthier
Ohio towns we grade (1,692)Healthier than 41%
Towns with similar incomes, $42K–$70K (7,141)Healthier than 48%
Better than its income would suggest. Forest is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Forest could be anywhere from D to B+.
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 Ohio 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 Forest 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. Forest uses CDC’s own estimate for it. 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 Forest compares with Ohio
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
41.2% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
29.5% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.6% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
35.1% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
13.5% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
31% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Forest adults…
39 of every 100 Forest adults have high blood pressure
Ohio: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 34.5–42.8%
Bars show Forest; the black tick is Ohio. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Forest, betterForest, worseToo close to callOhio
Get no exerciseshare of adults
29.5% Forest
OH 26.9%
OH 26.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
39% Forest
OH 37.9%
OH 37.9%
Binge drinkshare of adults
16.8% Forest
OH 16.6%
OH 16.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.8% Forest
OH 15.4%
OH 15.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Forest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Yearly checkup
OH 80%Dentist visit
OH 63%Cholesterol check
OH 86%Colon screening
OH 65%Mammogram
OH 76%Taking BP meds
OH 79%1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Forest 8% · Ohio 1 in 13 (8%)
Mind & connection
How Forest adults are doing
1 in 3Forest adults feel lonely
35.1% · Ohio 35% · too close to call
1 in 4Forest adults have been diagnosed with depression
26.5% · Ohio 25.4% · too close to call
1 in 5Forest adults lack social or emotional support
21.3% · Ohio 21.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Forest adults are in frequent mental distress
18.9% · Ohio 17.5% · too close to call
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 7
Forest adults worry about having enough food
13.5% · OH 14.1% · about the same
1 in 9
Forest adults worry about keeping their housing
11% · OH 11.3% · about the same
1 in 12
Forest adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.1% · OH 8.3% · about the same
1 in 13
Forest adults lack reliable transportation
7.5% · OH 7.7% · about the same
11.3% of Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Disability
Living with a disability
31%
of Forest adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs14.2%
Thinking or memory15.3%
Hearing7%
Errands alone8.5%
Vision4.7%
Dressing or bathing3.8%
Black tick: Ohio. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Forest
No hospital or community health center in Forest itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERHardin Memorial HospitalKenton · 11.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHealth Partners of Western OhioKenton · 12.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
12.3 mi
Health Partners of Western Ohio
2 sites · nearest in Kenton
Kenton Community Health CenterKenton · 12.3 mi
Tiffin Community Health CenterTiffin · 26.7 mi
25.1 mi
Center Street Community Clinic
2 sites · nearest in Marion
Center Street Community Health CenterMarion · 25.1 mi
Center Street Community ClinicMarion · 26 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careForest's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Hardin County · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careForest's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Hardin County · need score 15 of 25
! Mental healthForest's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, MHCA 62 · need score 19 of 25
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 Forest. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Forest
| Measure | Forest | Margin | Ohio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.9% | 34.5–42.8% | 37.2% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.7% | 32.4–40.9% | 36.7% | about the same |
| Obesity | 41.2% | 33.4–48.5% | 37.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 30.9% | 27.4–34.3% | 29.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 26.5% | 22.7–30.3% | 25.4% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 19.2% | 16–23% | 15.3% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5% | 11.1% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.8% | 8–9.8% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 12.7% | 10.9–14.5% | 13.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.6% | 7.4–10% | 8% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.1% | 6.3–8% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.5% | 3.1–4% | 3.7% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8% | 14.6–21.2% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 16.8% | 13.9–20% | 16.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 29.5% | 24.4–34.8% | 26.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39% | 33–45.4% | 37.9% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.6% | 74.9–81.9% | 79.9% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 60.3% | 56.7–63.8% | 62.9% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 85.1% | 82.7–87.2% | 86.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 64.1% | 59.2–68.8% | 65.2% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 70.6% | 62.7–77.9% | 76% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.1% | 75.1–80.7% | 79.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 8% | 6.3–10.1% | 8% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35.1% | 29.7–40.8% | 35% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 21.3% | 17.7–25.1% | 21.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.9% | 16.6–21.4% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 19.7% | 16.6–23.1% | 19.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.9% | 12.9–17.1% | 13.9% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.5% | 10.7–17% | 14.1% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 11% | 9–13.3% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.1% | 6.7–9.6% | 8.3% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.5% | 6.3–8.9% | 7.7% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11.3% | 8.9–14.2% | 11.7% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31% | 26.4–35.7% | 29.5% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 14.2% | 12–16.5% | 13.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.3% | 13.1–17.5% | 13.9% | |
| Hearing | 7% | 6.1–7.9% | 6.8% | |
| Vision | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3% | 4.8% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.8% | 3.2–4.3% | 3.8% | |
| Errands alone | 8.5% | 7.3–9.8% | 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 Forest door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Ohio figure falls inside it, we don't call Forest better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Forest directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio 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.