Photo: JJBers · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Connecticut, Putnam is healthier than 7% of graded towns
Putnam trails Connecticut on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 06260. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Putnam
Every town around Putnam scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Putnam’s C+, from Killingly (B−) to Woodstock (A). Around town ↓
COPD, depression and heart disease run high in Putnam
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.1%), vs 5.6% across Connecticut. 1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (24.9%), vs 20.6% across Connecticut. Heart disease is also above the state: 7%, vs 5.8% across Connecticut. In all, Putnam runs above Connecticut on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Putnam
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.4%), vs 10.6% across Connecticut. Habits ↓
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 Putnam’s likely range; Putnam’s figures come from ZIP code 06260, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Putnam’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Putnam is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns, #144 of 154 in Connecticut. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 63% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Putnam’s median household income is $70,561; among the 10,547 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 48%, about where its income would put it.
Putnam and the towns around it
Putnam’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam | C+ | 34.7% | 11.2% | 15.4% | ZIP 06260 |
| Pomfret | A | 31.1% | 9.3% | 10.1% | ZIP codes |
| Killingly | B− | 33.9% | 10.7% | 14.2% | ZIP codes |
| Putnam | — | — | — | — | |
| Thompson | B+ | 32.9% | 10.2% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Woodstock | A | 30.9% | 9.1% | 9.7% | ZIP codes |
| South Woodstock | — | — | — | — |
Putnam and South Woodstock: 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 Putnam adults…
Putnam runs above CT on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
9.3 miles of trails across 34 parks and preserves
Care in and near Putnam
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Putnam, 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 Putnam; ≈ 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 Putnam adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
How Putnam adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Putnam runs above Connecticut.
1 in 3 Putnam 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.
13.2% of Putnam adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Putnam adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Putnam
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Putnam is better than Connecticut on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Putnam’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Putnam | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.6%17.1–22.2 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.7–17.4 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.7–20.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.7%29.7–40 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.9–12.9 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.2%33–39.6 | 32% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38%34.7–41.6 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.1%25.4–30.9 | 24.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12%10.7–13.4 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.8 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.1%7–9.2 | 5.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.2%13.4–19.3 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.4%13.2–17.8 | 10.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.7%26–33.9 | 25.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.5–18.7 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2%33.8–42.8 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%7.9–11.5 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%76.2–82.1 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.7%62.6–68.6 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.7%86–89.4 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.7–79.2 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%66.7–74.3 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.3%64.6–77.4 | 79.5% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.9–28.2 | 20.6% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%29.3–37.1 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.7%22.6–29.2 | 25.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.6%13.3–18.2 | 14.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.4–14.1 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.4%7.3–9.8 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.2%11.1–15.6 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.3%27.9–35.1 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%12.4–16.3 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.3–17.1 | 12.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%7.9–10.1 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.7–4.7 | 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 Putnam
Is Putnam a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Putnam is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #144 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 48%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Putnam?
CDC estimates 34.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 40%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Putnam?
Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, 2.3 miles in a straight line from Putnam’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Putnam have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.9–11.5%), 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 Putnam more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Putnam.
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.