Sterling Opera House · Photo: Own work · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Connecticut, Derby is healthier than 16% of graded towns
Derby trails Connecticut on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Derby. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Derby
Connecticut sets a high bar
Derby is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, but only 16% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Derby has a top-rated hospital
Griffin Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Derby’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Derby’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Derby is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, #129 of 154 in Connecticut. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 75% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 35%).
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). Derby’s median household income is $79,500; among the 10,778 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$99K), it’s healthier than 73%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Derby
1 hospital in Derby, 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 Derby; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Derby adults…
Derby runs above CT on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Derby adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
How Derby adults are doing
About the same as Connecticut on each measure.
1 in 3 Derby 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.4% of Derby adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Derby and the towns around it
Derby’s Health Grade ranks 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby | B+ | 34.4% | 10.7% | 12% | CDC place |
| Ansonia | B+ | 34.6% | 10.2% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Orange | — | — | — | — | |
| Orange | A+ | 27.6% | 9% | 7.4% | ZIP 06477 |
| Shelton | A | 24.5% | 8.9% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| Seymour | A− | 32.3% | 9.2% | 11% | ZIP 06483 |
| Woodbridge | A+ | 26.8% | 8.7% | 6.2% | ZIP 06525 |
Orange: 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 Derby adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Derby
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Derby is better than Connecticut on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Derby’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Derby | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.1%14.9–19.4 | 16.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.9–15.1 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.6–18.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%30.2–39.2 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.7%31–36.7 | 32% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%36.4–42.2 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.9%23.6–28.3 | 24.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.9–12.3 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.1 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.3%5.3–7.2 | 5.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.1%10–14.5 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12%10.1–14 | 10.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.7%24.3–31.4 | 25.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.6–16.6 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8%34–42 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%8.7–12.5 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80%77.5–82.4 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.3%63.7–69.1 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.6–90.5 | 89.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%72.9–78 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.1%67.8–74.6 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%72.2–81.9 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%18.6–23.6 | 20.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%31.1–37.7 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.7%22.9–28.6 | 25.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.4%13.2–17.7 | 14.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%12–15.8 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%7.5–9.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.4%10.4–14.5 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.1%24–30.4 | 25.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.4%10.8–14.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13%11.4–14.8 | 12.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–7 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 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 Derby
Is Derby a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Derby is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #129 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Derby?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 39.2%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Derby?
Griffin Hospital in Derby, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Derby’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Derby have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–12.5%), 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 Derby 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 Derby.
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.