Photo: Victor-ny · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Connecticut, Groton is healthier than 14% of graded towns
Groton differs from Connecticut on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Groton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Groton
Connecticut sets a high bar
Groton is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, but only 14% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Groton
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (23.9%), vs 20.6% across Connecticut. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 17.9%, 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 Groton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Groton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Groton is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, #133 of 154 in Connecticut. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 83% 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). Groton’s median household income is $79,577; among the 10,773 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$99K), it’s healthier than 64%, about where its income would put it.
How Groton adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Groton runs above Connecticut.
1 in 3 Groton 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 Groton adults…
Groton runs below CT on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Groton
No hospital or community health center in Groton 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 Groton; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Groton 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.
15.1% of Groton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Groton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groton | B | 33.8% | 9.8% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Groton | A− | 30.6% | 8.8% | 9.5% | ZIP codes |
| New London | C+ | 36.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Conning Towers-Nautilus Park | — | — | — | — | |
| Long Hill | — | — | — | — |
Conning Towers-Nautilus Park and Long Hill: 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 Groton adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Groton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Groton is better than Connecticut on 2 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Groton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Groton | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%17–21.6 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.3–15.5 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%16.1–20 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.8%29.2–39.1 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.9%30–36.1 | 32% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.1%31.1–37.5 | 38.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.5%22.3–27.1 | 24.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.8–13.5 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.6–8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5–6.2 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.3%5.6–7.2 | 5.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.4%9.4–13.8 | 9.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.8%10.2–13.8 | 10.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.8%24.6–31.7 | 25.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%13.2–18.1 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%34.5–43.5 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%9.2–12.8 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76.5–82.3 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.4%64.4–70.2 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85–88.5 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%70.6–76.1 | 76.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.8%66–73.5 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%71.4–82.6 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%21.2–27.1 | 20.6% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%30–37.5 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.3–28.6 | 25.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.6%15.1–20.2 | 14.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.4%12.4–16.5 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10%8.7–11.3 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.1%12.9–17.4 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26.6–33.4 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.7–13.8 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.9–17.5 | 12.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 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 Groton
Is Groton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Groton is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #133 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 64%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Groton?
CDC estimates 33.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 39.1%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Groton?
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Groton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Groton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–12.8%), 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 Groton 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 Groton.
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.