Health in Durham
On most measures Durham looks like Oregon as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more adults in fair or poor health (22.2% vs 19%) and fewer adults getting cholesterol checked (81.7% vs 84%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Durham. How CDC estimates town health
Durham’s Health Grade: B−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Durham does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 the Healthiest towns in Oregon ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Durham 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. 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.
Out of every 100 Durham adults…
On every condition, Durham is about the same as Oregon. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Durham
No hospital or community health center in Durham 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 Durham; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Oregon
Share of adults, with the Oregon figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Durham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
How Durham adults are doing
About the same as Oregon 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.
Durham and the towns around it
Durham’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Durham adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
All 33 CDC measures for Durham
| Measure | Durham | Likely range | Oregon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 33.3% | 30.2–36.3% | 32.7% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.1% | 31.9–38.3% | 34.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.7% | 32–41.3% | 33.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 25.9% | 23.3–28.4% | 27.4% | about the same |
| Depression | 27.8% | 24.7–31% | 27.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14.1% | 11.4–17.3% | 12.5% | about the same |
| Asthma | 12.5% | 11.1–14% | 11.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7% | 10.2–13.3% | 11.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 7% | 6–8.2% | 6.8% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.2% | 5.5–7% | 6.5% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.3% | 2.9–3.6% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8% | 10.7–15.1% | 12% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 13.9% | 11.9–16.2% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 21.5% | 18.2–25.1% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.3% | 28.4–36.5% | 30.6% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 70.2% | 66.9–73.2% | 72.6% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 61.6% | 58.3–64.9% | 64.7% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 81.7% | 79.6–83.9% | 84% | worse |
| Colon screening | 65.1% | 61–69.1% | 63.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 78.5% | 72.8–83.8% | 77.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 69.2% | 66.1–72% | 71.4% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 8.2–12.4% | 8.5% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 18.8% | 16.7–21% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.2% | 19.5–25.4% | 19% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.2% | 13.4–17.1% | 13.8% | about the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.4% | 27.8–35.2% | 30% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.3% | 11.4–15.3% | 13% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.2% | 14.2–18.4% | 14.6% | |
| Hearing | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5% | 7.1% | |
| Vision | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8% | 4.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.8% | 3.3–4.2% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 8.8% | 7.7–10.1% | 7.9% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Durham door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the Oregon figure falls inside it, we don’t call Durham better or worse.
CDC publishes Durham directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Durham.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oregon 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.