Providence, RI health
Providence differs from Rhode Island on 23 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (4.8% vs 8.4%) and fewer adults with arthritis (18.8% vs 25.4%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing food insecurity (27.4% vs 15.1%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for ProvidenceProvidence’s Health Grade: C+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Providence is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Providence 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 Rhode Island 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 Providence 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. Providence 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 Providence compares with Rhode Island
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
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Providence adults…
Bars show Providence; the black tick is Rhode Island. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
RI 25.4%
RI 35%
RI 16.8%
RI 11.6%
Keeping up with care
Share of Providence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Rhode Island.
How Providence adults are doing
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.
Living with a disability
of Providence adults live with a disability (Rhode Island 27.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Rhode Island. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Providence 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 Providence.
Obesity
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
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. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Providence
| Measure | Providence | Margin | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 29.3% | 26.8–31.8% | 33.8% | better |
| High cholesterol | 29.5% | 26.9–32.2% | 34.2% | better |
| Obesity | 34.4% | 29.7–39.3% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 18.8% | 17.1–20.6% | 25.4% | better |
| Depression | 23% | 20.3–25.8% | 23.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14.8% | 12.6–17.2% | 14.2% | about the same |
| Asthma | 12.4% | 11.2–13.6% | 11.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2% | 8.4% | better |
| Diabetes | 11.5% | 10.4–12.7% | 11.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2% | 6.6% | better |
| Heart disease | 5.2% | 4.7–5.6% | 6.3% | better |
| Stroke | 2.9% | 2.7–3.1% | 3.2% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1% | 10.8–13.6% | 11.6% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 16.7% | 14.6–18.9% | 16.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 31.8% | 28.5–35.3% | 25.4% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7% | 35.2–44.3% | 35% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 81% | 78.2–83.6% | 84.1% | worse |
| Dentist visit | 61.4% | 58.1–64.6% | 71.2% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 84.7% | 82.9–86.4% | 89.1% | worse |
| Colon screening | 65.5% | 61.6–69.1% | 73.2% | worse |
| Mammogram | 82.7% | 78.2–86.6% | 82.3% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 72% | 69.7–74.3% | 77.4% | worse |
| No health insurance | 14.6% | 12.9–16.3% | 8.2% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 40.7% | 37.2–44.4% | 35% | worse |
| Lack emotional support | 26.6% | 23.9–29.7% | 22% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.6% | 17.8–21.4% | 16.7% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 21.9% | 20–23.9% | 17.3% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.1% | 12.8–15.4% | 13.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 27.4% | 25.2–29.6% | 15.1% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 22.6% | 20.6–24.8% | 13.1% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 13.5% | 12.1–15% | 8% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 13.4% | 12.1–14.8% | 7.9% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 23.6% | 21.3–26.1% | 13.2% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.4% | 28.5–34.4% | 27.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12.9% | 11.7–14.2% | 12.3% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.8% | 16.2–19.5% | 13.9% | |
| Hearing | 5.4% | 4.9–6% | 6.5% | |
| Vision | 6.9% | 6.4–7.4% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.3% | 4–4.6% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 9.7% | 8.9–10.6% | 7.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Rhode Island 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.