Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Darien is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Darien differs from Connecticut on 26 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 25 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 06820. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Darien
Darien is the healthiest town in Connecticut we grade
Out of 154 Connecticut towns with a Health Grade, Darien comes first on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 99% of towns. Health Grade ↓
Darien is an active town
Only 15.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.1% across Connecticut. Habits ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in Darien
Darien runs below Connecticut on eight chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.3% vs 5.6%), diabetes (6.4% vs 10.2%) and stroke (2.1% vs 3.2%). A young population is part of it: only 14% of residents are 65 or older (Connecticut 19%). Conditions ↓
Darien adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (29.2% vs 33.2%), frequent mental distress (11.8% vs 15.8%), lack of emotional support (19.3% vs 25.1%) and depression (17.5% vs 20.6%) all run below 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 Darien’s likely range; Darien’s figures come from ZIP code 06820, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Darien’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Darien is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #1 of 154 in Connecticut. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than almost every town); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 98%.
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). Darien’s median household income is $250,001; among the 436 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($188K–$313K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
8.7 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Darien adults…
Darien runs below CT on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Darien adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Darien does better than Connecticut.
3 in 10 Darien 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.
Care in and near Darien
No hospital or community health center in Darien 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 Darien; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Darien 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.
3.2% of Darien adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Darien and the towns around it
Darien has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darien | A+ | 21.5% | 6.4% | 5.6% | ZIP 06820 |
| Stamford | A | 25.5% | 8.6% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| Norwalk | A | 26.7% | 9.3% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Noroton | — | — | — | — | |
| Tokeneke | — | — | — | — | |
| Noroton Heights | — | — | — | — | |
| New Canaan | A+ | 21.4% | 7% | 5.9% | ZIP 06840 |
Noroton, Tokeneke and Noroton Heights: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Darien adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Darien
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Darien is better than Connecticut on 25 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Darien’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Darien | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 8.8%7.7–10 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.5%7.5–9.5 | 12.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.5–13.1 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.5%18–25 | 30.5% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 10.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.2%22.7–27.5 | 32% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%34.4–40.5 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20%17.9–21.8 | 24.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.3–10.3 | 11% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–9.8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.6–4.5 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.3%2.8–3.7 | 5.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.1%2–2.3 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4%3.3–4.9 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 5.6%4.7–6.6 | 10.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.1%12.9–17.2 | 25.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.8%15.5–20 | 15.4% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.5%26.3–33.4 | 35.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.3%3.7–5.1 | 10% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76.8–81.8 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 83%81.2–84.9 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.7%91.7–93.6 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74–79.6 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.5%70.5–76.7 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.9%76.5–85.2 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.5%15.3–19.7 | 20.6% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 29.2%26.3–32.1 | 33.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.3%17.2–21.6 | 25.1% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.4%4.5–6.3 | 14.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.4%4.6–6.2 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.7%3.1–4.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.2%2.6–3.9 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 15.6%13.6–17.5 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 6.3%5.4–7.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 12.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4%3.5–4.5 | 7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.9%1.7–2.1 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Darien
Is Darien a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Darien is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #1 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Darien?
CDC estimates 21.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 18% and 25%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Darien?
Stamford Hospital in Stamford, 3.9 miles in a straight line from Darien’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Darien have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.7–5.1%), 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 Darien more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Darien.
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.