Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Connecticut, Norwalk is healthier than 42% of graded towns
Norwalk differs from Connecticut on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Norwalk. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norwalk
Connecticut sets a high bar
Norwalk is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, but only 42% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Norwalk scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Norwalk’s A, from Wilton (A+) to Darien (A+). Around town ↓
Depression and arthritis are less common in Norwalk
Norwalk runs below Connecticut on depression (17.3% vs 20.6%) and arthritis (20.8% vs 24.7%). 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 Norwalk’s likely range.
What’s behind Norwalk’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwalk is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #90 of 154 in Connecticut. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 92% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 54%.
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). Norwalk’s median household income is $107,616; among the 7,527 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$135K), it’s healthier than 81%, about where its income would put it.
Norwalk and the towns around it
Norwalk’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk | A | 26.7% | 9.3% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Darien | A+ | 21.5% | 6.4% | 5.6% | ZIP 06820 |
| Westport | A+ | 21.4% | 7.3% | 5.9% | ZIP 06880 |
| Tokeneke | — | — | — | — | |
| Saugatuck | — | — | — | — | |
| Old Hill | — | — | — | — | |
| New Canaan | A+ | 21.4% | 7% | 5.9% | ZIP 06840 |
| Wilton | A+ | 21.3% | 7.2% | 6.2% | ZIP 06897 |
Tokeneke, Saugatuck and Old Hill: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Norwalk adults…
Norwalk runs below CT on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Norwalk
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Norwalk, 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 Norwalk; ≈ 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.
14 miles of trails across 56 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Norwalk adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
How Norwalk adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Norwalk does better than Connecticut.
1 in 3 Norwalk 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.
10.8% of Norwalk adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Norwalk adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norwalk
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norwalk is better than Connecticut on 7 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Norwalk’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norwalk | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.6%14–17.1 | 16.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.6%10.4–12.7 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13.1–16 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.7%22.7–30.6 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8.2–10.3 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 28.9%26.3–31.3 | 32% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%34.4–40.1 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.8%18.8–22.7 | 24.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–10.9 | 11% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.8–8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.6–5.5 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 5.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.8%8.1–11.8 | 9.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 10.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%22.3–27.8 | 25.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.9–18.1 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.2%31.7–39.4 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.7%11.2–14.2 | 10% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.5%74.7–79.9 | 80.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.4%69.1–74 | 70.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%88.2–90.7 | 89.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.8%74.1–79.1 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%67.9–74.4 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%73.4–82.9 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.3%15.2–19.4 | 20.6% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 34.1%31.1–37.3 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%23.7–28.9 | 25.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%13.9–17.2 | 14.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.4%12–14.9 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%7.3–9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.8%20.4–25.1 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10%8.9–11.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.1%10–12.3 | 12.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.7–5.8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.5%5.8–7.1 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.6 | 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 Norwalk
Is Norwalk a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwalk is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #90 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 81%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norwalk?
CDC estimates 26.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.7% and 30.6%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norwalk?
Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Norwalk’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norwalk have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.2–14.2%), 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 Norwalk more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Norwalk.
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.