Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, New Canaan is among the healthiest U.S. towns
New Canaan differs from Connecticut on 26 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 25 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 06840. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in New Canaan
New Canaan ranks #3 for health in Connecticut
Out of 154 Connecticut towns with a Health Grade, New Canaan is #3 on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 99% of towns. Health Grade ↓
New Canaan adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (29.3% vs 33.2%), frequent mental distress (11.7% vs 15.8%), lack of emotional support (19.7% vs 25.1%) and depression (17.3% vs 20.6%) all run below Connecticut. Mind & connection ↓
New Canaan is an active town
Only 16.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.1% across Connecticut. The town has 11 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in New Canaan
New Canaan runs below Connecticut on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.7% vs 5.6%), diabetes (7% vs 10.2%) and obesity (21.4% vs 30.5%). Conditions ↓
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 New Canaan’s likely range; New Canaan’s figures come from ZIP code 06840, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind New Canaan’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Canaan is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #3 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 96%.
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). New Canaan’s median household income is $250,001; among the 436 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($188K–$313K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
How New Canaan adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, New Canaan does better than Connecticut.
3 in 10 New Canaan 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 New Canaan adults…
New Canaan runs below CT on 10 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near New Canaan
No hospital or community health center in New Canaan 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 New Canaan; ≈ 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 New Canaan 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.
3.4% of New Canaan adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
New Canaan and the towns around it
New Canaan’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Canaan | A+ | 21.4% | 7% | 5.9% | ZIP 06840 |
| Wilton | A+ | 21.3% | 7.2% | 6.2% | ZIP 06897 |
| Stamford | A | 25.5% | 8.6% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| Norwalk | A | 26.7% | 9.3% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Darien | A+ | 21.5% | 6.4% | 5.6% | ZIP 06820 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of New Canaan adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for New Canaan
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, New Canaan is better than Connecticut on 25 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside New Canaan’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | New Canaan | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 9.5%8.2–10.8 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9%8–10.1 | 12.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.4–13 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.4%17.9–24.7 | 30.5% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7%6.1–7.8 | 10.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.1%24.5–29.4 | 32% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%36.1–42.1 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.8%19.6–23.8 | 24.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 11% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.2–10.8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 5.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.7%3.9–5.8 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 5.9%4.9–7 | 10.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.1%13.8–18.4 | 25.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14.6–18.9 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.6%26.4–33.5 | 35.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.6%3.8–5.4 | 10% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.9–82.6 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 82.8%81–84.6 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 93.1%92–94 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.1–81.3 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 75%72.1–78.2 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%76.1–84.8 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.3%15.1–19.3 | 20.6% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 29.3%26.4–32.5 | 33.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.7%17.4–22.1 | 25.1% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.6%4.8–6.7 | 14.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.4%4.6–6.3 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.6%3.1–4.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.4%2.8–4.2 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 16.9%14.7–19 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 7.4%6.5–8.4 | 12.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5%4.4–5.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.6%2.3–2.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2%1.8–2.3 | 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 New Canaan
Is New Canaan a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Canaan is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #3 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in New Canaan?
CDC estimates 21.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 17.9% and 24.7%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to New Canaan?
Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, 5.3 miles in a straight line from New Canaan’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in New Canaan have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.8–5.4%), 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 New Canaan 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 New Canaan.
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.