Plymouth County Health Data

Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Health Score

92/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

78.8 yr

Uninsured Rate

2.4%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

78.8 yr

State avg 79.7 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

2.4%

State avg 3.0%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

63

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

648

per 100K population

National avg 350

Data Story

About Health in Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Plymouth lags on national comparison

Plymouth County's life expectancy of 78.8 years falls slightly below the U.S. average of 78.9 years, the only Massachusetts county in this data at the national baseline. At 13.8% reporting poor or fair health versus the national rate of 15.3%, the county shows resilience despite lower longevity.

Health challenges within Massachusetts

Plymouth County's 78.8-year life expectancy trails the state average of 79.7 years by nearly a full year, the lowest among these six counties. The 13.8% poor/fair health rate exceeds the state average, indicating Plymouth faces steeper health challenges than much of Massachusetts.

Struggling alongside Worcester County

Plymouth County ties Worcester County at 78.8 years life expectancy, the lowest in this comparison group, significantly behind Middlesex (81.5 years) and Nantucket (82.8 years). Both counties share similar uninsured rates around 2.4%–3.2%, suggesting barriers beyond just insurance coverage.

Limited access to primary care

Plymouth has only 63 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, the second-lowest in this group and a significant access constraint. With 648 mental health providers per 100,000 and a 2.4% uninsured rate, mental health services are relatively robust, but primary care gaps likely delay early diagnosis and prevention.

Healthcare access starts with coverage

Uninsured rates are low in Plymouth, but coverage alone isn't enough—building local primary care capacity requires proactive health-seeking and regular preventive visits. Visit healthcare.gov to find nearby primary care providers and schedule checkups that support better long-term outcomes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Plymouth County, MA?
Plymouth County has a health score of 92/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #8 out of 14 counties in Massachusetts (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Plymouth County?
Life expectancy in Plymouth County is 78.8 years. The Massachusetts state average is 79.7 years, making Plymouth County below the state average.
How does Plymouth County health compare to the Massachusetts average?
Plymouth County's health score of 92/100 is above the Massachusetts average of 91/100. Life expectancy is 78.8 years vs. the state average of 79.7 years. The uninsured rate is 2.4% vs. 3.0% statewide.
What health factors affect Plymouth County?
Key health factors for Plymouth County include: life expectancy (78.8 years), uninsured rate (2.4%), and primary care physician access (63:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 648:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Plymouth County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 92/100 ("Excellent"), Plymouth County is one of the healthier counties in Massachusetts. Residents have a life expectancy of 78.8 years. 2.4% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Plymouth County healthier than the Massachusetts average?
Plymouth County's health score of 92/100 exceeds the Massachusetts average of 91/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors. Plymouth County has better primary care access (63:1 ratio) than the state average (88:1).

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Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.