Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 4.0Within Connecticut, Columbia is healthier than 29% of graded towns
Columbia differs from Connecticut on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 06237. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbia
Connecticut sets a high bar
Columbia is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, but only 29% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Columbia’s lead shrinks
Columbia is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, but 45% of the 4,858 towns with similar household incomes ($95K–$159K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and heart disease run high in Columbia
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.9%), vs 8.5% across Connecticut. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7%), vs 5.8% across Connecticut. In all, Columbia runs above Connecticut on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Columbia
Grades next door run from Andover (A+) to Windham (C). Columbia is an A−. Around town ↓
Fewer Columbia adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Connecticut. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Columbia’s likely range; Columbia’s figures come from ZIP code 06237, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A+.
What’s behind Columbia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #110 of 154 in Connecticut. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 81% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 64%.
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). Columbia’s median household income is $127,000; among the 4,858 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($95K–$159K), it’s healthier than 45%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Columbia adults…
Columbia runs above CT on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.1% of Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Columbia and the towns around it
Columbia’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | A− | 31.9% | 10% | 11.3% | ZIP 06237 |
| Lebanon | A− | 31.5% | 9.1% | 10% | ZIP 06249 |
| Coventry | A | 30.6% | 8.3% | 9.5% | ZIP 06238 |
| Andover | A+ | 29.5% | 8% | 8.4% | ZIP 06232 |
| Hebron | A+ | 29.9% | 8.1% | 8.5% | ZIP codes |
| Windham | C | 36% | 13.1% | 14.4% | ZIP codes |
| Willimantic | — | — | — | — |
Willimantic: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Columbia
No hospital or community health center in Columbia 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 Columbia; ≈ 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.
21 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
How Columbia adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Columbia does better than Connecticut.
1 in 3 Columbia 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbia adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbia is better than Connecticut on 7 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Columbia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbia | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.8%12.7–19.2 | 16.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.2–15.6 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%13.7–18.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.9%27.2–37.3 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.4–11.7 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.3%30.8–37.8 | 32% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.5%38.3–45.1 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%25.8–32 | 24.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10.1–12.8 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%5.9–8.1 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.9%5.4–8.4 | 5.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3–4.1 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.2%9.1–13.7 | 9.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.3%8.5–14.1 | 10.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.3%17.1–25.7 | 25.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.5–17.2 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%29.3–37.8 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5–9.2 | 10% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.2%78.4–84 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73%70.2–75.7 | 70.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.9%89.1–92.5 | 89.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%76.7–82.2 | 76.5% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.3%69.7–76.8 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.7%72.2–83 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.1%19.4–25.3 | 20.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.2%27.4–35.6 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21%18–24.7 | 25.1% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.3%7.8–13.2 | 14.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.7%6.9–10.7 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.9%4.8–7.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.1%5–7.4 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.1%6–10.6 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.4%20.4–28.7 | 25.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.7%9.5–14.2 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12%9.9–14.2 | 12.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%5.9–8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.4–4.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%5.6–8.3 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.7–4.1 | 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 Columbia
Is Columbia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: ≈ A− for health, #110 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 45%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbia?
CDC estimates 31.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.2% and 37.3%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbia?
Windham Community Memorial Hospital in Willimantic, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–9.2%), 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 Columbia 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 Columbia.
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.