Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Connecticut, Bristol is healthier than 20% of graded towns
Bristol trails Connecticut on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bristol. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bristol
Connecticut sets a high bar
Bristol is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns, but only 20% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Bristol
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (23.6%), vs 20.6% across Connecticut. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 17.5%, vs 15.8% across Connecticut. Mind & connection ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Connecticut figure falls outside Bristol’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Bristol’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bristol is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #123 of 154 in Connecticut. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 75% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 42%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bristol’s median household income is $79,076; among the 10,789 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$99K), it’s healthier than 77%, about where its income would put it.
How Bristol adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bristol runs above Connecticut.
1 in 3 Bristol adults feel lonely. 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.
Out of every 100 Bristol adults…
Bristol runs above CT on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bristol
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Bristol, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Bristol; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
28 miles of trails across 23 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bristol adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.7% of Bristol adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Bristol and the towns around it
Bristol’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | B+ | 32.1% | 10.7% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Plainville | B | 32.2% | 11% | 12.8% | ZIP codes |
| Burlington | A | 29% | 8.9% | 9.2% | ZIP 06013 |
| Plymouth | A− | 28.8% | 9.6% | 12.2% | ZIP codes |
| Southington | A | 28.9% | 9.8% | 10% | ZIP codes |
| Terryville | — | — | — | — | |
| Wolcott | A | 30.8% | 8.8% | 9.7% | ZIP 06716 |
| Farmington | A+ | 26.5% | 9.5% | 7.7% | ZIP codes |
Terryville: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bristol adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bristol
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bristol is better than Connecticut on 0 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Bristol’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bristol | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.5%14.9–18.2 | 16.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.8–14.3 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.9–19.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.1%27.9–36.5 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.6–11.9 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%30–35.3 | 32% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.7%36.8–42.6 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.5%24.3–28.6 | 24.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.3%11.2–13.6 | 11% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%8.1–9.5 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 5.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.5–12.3 | 9.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%10.8–13.9 | 10.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.4%22.7–28.3 | 25.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%14.4–18.6 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%33.4–41 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%8–10.3 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%79.3–83.9 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.4%66.9–72 | 70.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.8%88.6–90.9 | 89.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.4%73.9–78.7 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.6%68.4–74.8 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.2%76.7–85.1 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%21.1–26.3 | 20.6% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%30.4–37 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.7%23–28.4 | 25.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.6%13.1–16.3 | 14.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.8%10.4–13.2 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.7%9.3–12.2 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.9%24.4–29.5 | 25.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%10.6–13.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.5%12.2–14.9 | 12.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.5–8 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Connecticut figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bristol
Is Bristol a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bristol is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #123 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 77%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bristol?
CDC estimates 32.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.9% and 36.5%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bristol?
Bristol Hospital in Bristol, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Bristol’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bristol have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–10.3%), against 10% across Connecticut.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bristol more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bristol.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Connecticut 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.