Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Connecticut, North Canaan is healthier than 10% of graded towns
North Canaan trails Connecticut on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 06018, 06024. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Canaan
Every town around North Canaan scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of North Canaan’s B−, from Canaan (A−) to Salisbury (A). Around town ↓
Connecticut sets a high bar
North Canaan is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, but only 10% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in North Canaan
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.5%), vs 5.6% across Connecticut. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.1%), vs 5.8% across Connecticut. Stroke is also above the state: 4.3%, vs 3.2% across Connecticut. In all, North Canaan runs above Connecticut on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in North Canaan
63.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 70.7% across Connecticut. Among those 65 and older, 18.4% have lost all their teeth (Connecticut 9.8%). 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 North Canaan’s likely range; North Canaan’s figures come from ZIP codes 06018, 06024, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind North Canaan’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Canaan is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, #139 of 154 in Connecticut. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 82% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 26%).
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). North Canaan’s median household income is $71,976; among the 10,665 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
North Canaan and the towns around it
North Canaan’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Canaan | B− | 30.5% | 11.5% | 13.8% | ZIP codes |
| Salisbury | A | 25.4% | 9.9% | 8% | ZIP codes |
| Canaan | — | — | — | — | |
| Canaan | A− | 28.9% | 10.9% | 10.4% | ZIP 06031 |
| Norfolk | A | 27.8% | 10.4% | 9.6% | ZIP 06058 |
Canaan: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 North Canaan adults…
North Canaan runs above CT on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of North Canaan adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
Care in and near North Canaan
1 community health center in North Canaan, 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 North 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How North Canaan adults are doing
About the same as Connecticut on each measure.
1 in 3 North 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.1% of North Canaan adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Canaan adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Canaan
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Canaan is better than Connecticut on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside North Canaan’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Canaan | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%16.9–23.1 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.7–17.9 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.1–19.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.5%26.1–35.7 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%10–13.3 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.8%31.7–38.3 | 32% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.5%37.3–44.2 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.5%28.7–34.6 | 24.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–13 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.6%9.6–11.7 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.5%7.1–10.1 | 5.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.7–4.8 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.4%15.4–21.8 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.8%11.3–16.4 | 10.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.3%24.3–32.9 | 25.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.8–17.5 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%29.2–37.8 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.2–11.3 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%77.8–83.4 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.9%60.8–67.1 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.1%87.3–90.8 | 89.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.3–81.6 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65%60.9–69.1 | 72.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.6%67.1–79.4 | 79.5% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%20.3–26.3 | 20.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%27.4–35.1 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.6%21.4–28.2 | 25.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14%11.5–17 | 14.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.2–13.1 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.6–9.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%6.9–9.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.1%9.7–14.8 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.7%26.8–34.9 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.3%13–17.9 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%11.9–16 | 12.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.7–10.5 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.8–5.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 North Canaan
Is North Canaan a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Canaan is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #139 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Canaan?
CDC estimates 30.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.1% and 35.7%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Canaan?
Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, 12.5 miles in a straight line from North Canaan’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Canaan have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–11.3%), 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 North Canaan 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 North 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.