Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Connecticut, Norwich is healthier than 5% of graded towns
Norwich differs from Connecticut on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Norwich. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norwich
Every town around Norwich scores healthier
All six graded neighbors are ahead of Norwich’s C+, from Sprague (B) to Preston (A−). Around town ↓
Norwich is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Norwich is healthier than 40%. Against the 9,932 towns with similar household incomes ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 56%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Norwich
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.8%), vs 14.9% across Connecticut. No reliable transportation (10.9% vs 8.3%) and utility shut-off threats (10.8% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 17.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Norwich
1 in 6 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.1%), vs 15.8% across Connecticut. Depression is above the state too: 23.5%, vs 20.6% across Connecticut. Mind & connection ↓
Norwich has a top-rated hospital
William W Backus Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Norwich’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Norwich’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwich is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns, #146 of 154 in Connecticut. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 63% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 18%).
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). Norwich’s median household income is $65,024; among the 9,932 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 56%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Norwich and the towns around it
Norwich’s Health Grade ranks 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich | C+ | 35.2% | 11.6% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Montville | A− | 31.9% | 9.6% | 10.9% | ZIP codes |
| Bozrah | A− | 32.1% | 10% | 10.6% | ZIP codes |
| Preston | A− | 30.8% | 9.4% | 9.7% | ZIP 06365 |
| Lisbon | B | 33.1% | 9.9% | 12.4% | ZIP 06351 |
| Sprague | B | 33.3% | 10.1% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| Franklin | A− | 31.7% | 10% | 10.7% | ZIP 06254 |
| Baltic | — | — | — | — |
Baltic: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.1% of Norwich adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
How Norwich adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Norwich runs above Connecticut.
1 in 3 Norwich 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.
Care in and near Norwich
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Norwich, 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 Norwich; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Norwich adults…
Norwich runs below CT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
18 miles of trails across 66 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Norwich adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Norwich adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norwich
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norwich is better than Connecticut on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Norwich’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norwich | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.7–24.3 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.8–17 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.4–20.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.2%30.5–40.7 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%10.3–13.1 | 10.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.2%33.3–39.6 | 32% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%32.9–39.4 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%24.5–29.6 | 24.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.3%11–13.7 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.9–8.3 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%6–7.3 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 5.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.5–4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.1%11.7–16.9 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.4%11.7–15.3 | 10.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.3%27.9–35.2 | 25.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.3%12.2–16.7 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.9%35.5–44.4 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.1%10.5–13.8 | 10% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%77.5–83 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65%61.9–68 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.5–88.8 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%72.8–78.1 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%64.4–72.2 | 72.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%70.2–81.6 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%20.7–26.6 | 20.6% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%30.6–38.3 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%24–30.4 | 25.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.8%17.5–22.2 | 14.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.8%13.9–17.7 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%9.7–12.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.1%14.9–19.2 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%29.5–36.2 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.5%13–16.2 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%14.8–18.3 | 12.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.7–6.7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8.2–10.1 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 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 Norwich
Is Norwich a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwich is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #146 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 56%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norwich?
CDC estimates 35.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 40.7%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norwich?
William W Backus Hospital in Norwich, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Norwich’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norwich have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.5–13.8%), 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 Norwich more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Norwich.
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.