Merlin, OR health
Merlin differs from Oregon on 15 of 33 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (78.2% vs 71.4%) and more adults getting a yearly checkup (76.5% vs 72.6%). Where it trails the state: more adults with heart disease (9.9% vs 6.5%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for MerlinMerlin’s Health Grade: C+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Merlin is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Merlin 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 our 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) 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 Merlin 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. Merlin 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.
How Merlin compares with Oregon
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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Disability
Out of every 100 Merlin adults…
Bars show Merlin; the black tick is Oregon. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
OR 20.1%
OR 30.6%
OR 15.4%
OR 12%
Keeping up with care
Share of Merlin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
How Merlin adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Merlin adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: Oregon. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Merlin
No hospital or community health center in Merlin 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 Merlin. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Merlin
| Measure | Merlin | Margin | Oregon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40% | 35.8–44.4% | 32.7% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 40.4% | 36.1–44.9% | 34.4% | worse |
| Obesity | 32.3% | 26.2–39% | 33.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 37.4% | 33.6–41.4% | 27.4% | worse |
| Depression | 25.5% | 22–29.4% | 27.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 15.8% | 13–19% | 12.5% | worse |
| Asthma | 12.1% | 10.7–13.6% | 11.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 12.5% | 11.3–13.8% | 8.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 14.8% | 12.7–17.1% | 11.2% | worse |
| COPD | 10% | 8.5–11.5% | 6.8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.9% | 8.7–11.1% | 6.5% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.9% | 4.4–5.5% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14% | 11.7–16.6% | 12% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 13.2% | 10.9–15.9% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 23.6% | 19.4–28% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4% | 25.1–36.1% | 30.6% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 76.5% | 73–79.9% | 72.6% | better |
| Dentist visit | 60.1% | 56.3–63.9% | 64.7% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 86.6% | 84.7–88.3% | 84% | better |
| Colon screening | 67.9% | 62.9–72.8% | 63.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 74.6% | 67–81.2% | 77.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.2% | 74.9–81.2% | 71.4% | better |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 6.8–10.2% | 8.5% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 16.6% | 14.5–18.7% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.6% | 19.4–26% | 19% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17% | 14.8–19.3% | 13.8% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.5% | 31.7–41.2% | 30% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18.5% | 15.8–21.3% | 13% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14.9% | 13–17% | 14.6% | |
| Hearing | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8% | 7.1% | |
| Vision | 5.7% | 5–6.4% | 4.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.6% | 4–5.3% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 9.2% | 7.9–10.6% | 7.9% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oregon 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.