Thomas Lyman House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Durham is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Durham differs from Connecticut on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 06422. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Durham
Against towns with similar incomes, Durham’s lead shrinks
Durham is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, but 67% of the 2,238 towns with similar household incomes ($119K–$199K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Durham is an active town
Only 19% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.1% across Connecticut. The town has 49 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Fewer Durham adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Connecticut. 1 in 14 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nearly everyone in Durham is insured
Only 5.5% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10% across Connecticut. Checkups ↓
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 Durham’s likely range; Durham’s figures come from ZIP code 06422, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Durham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #39 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 96% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 87%.
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). Durham’s median household income is $158,857; among the 2,238 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($119K–$199K), it’s healthier than 67%, about where its income would put it.
Most Connecticut towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Durham is healthier than 75% of graded towns, against 94% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
49 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.9% of Durham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Keeping up with care
Share of Durham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
Out of every 100 Durham adults…
Durham runs below CT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Durham
No hospital or community health center in Durham 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 Durham; ≈ 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).
How Durham adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Durham does better than Connecticut.
3 in 10 Durham 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.
Durham and the towns around it
Durham’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | A | 28% | 8.5% | 9.6% | ZIP 06422 |
| Haddam | A+ | 27.7% | 8.5% | 9.1% | ZIP codes |
| Guilford | A | 29.4% | 9.4% | 8% | ZIP 06437 |
| Killingworth | A+ | 27.5% | 9.2% | 8.5% | ZIP 06419 |
| Middlefield | A | 28.9% | 9.4% | 10% | ZIP codes |
| Durham | — | — | — | — | |
| Madison | A+ | 27.4% | 8.4% | 6.2% | ZIP 06443 |
| North Branford | A | 30.7% | 9.3% | 10.2% | ZIP codes |
Durham: 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 Durham adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Durham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Durham is better than Connecticut on 13 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Durham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Durham | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.2%10.2–14.6 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.7–12.8 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.6–16.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28%23.7–32.6 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.5%7.4–9.9 | 10.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%28.7–34.9 | 32% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.7%35.4–42 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%24.3–29.7 | 24.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.8–10.6 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.2%4.3–6.2 | 5.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.6–11.3 | 9.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.6%7.7–11.8 | 10.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19%16–22.7 | 25.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.2%14.8–19.9 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.1%27.3–35.6 | 35.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.3–6.9 | 10% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.3%79.7–84.8 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 78%75.7–80.5 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.3%89.8–92.7 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.7%73.5–79.6 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.6%69.2–76.2 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.9%74.6–84.7 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.8–25.6 | 20.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.7%24.2–31.5 | 33.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%18.1–24.3 | 25.1% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.4%5.9–9.4 | 14.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.2%5.9–8.8 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.8%4–5.8 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5%4.3–6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.9%4.6–7.6 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.4%17.5–23.7 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.9%7.5–10.6 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.4%8.8–12.1 | 12.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%2.8–3.8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.6%4.8–6.7 | 7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.3–3.1 | 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 Durham
Is Durham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #39 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 67%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Durham?
CDC estimates 28% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.7% and 32.6%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Durham?
Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, 5.7 miles in a straight line from Durham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Durham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.3–6.9%), 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 Durham more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Durham.
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.