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Water Street at Church Street, Stonington, CTPhoto: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 3.0
AHealth Grade
Health in Stonington · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Stonington is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns

Stonington differs from Connecticut on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 5 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Stonington. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Stonington

Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Stonington

1 in 7 adults have had cancer (14%), vs 8.5% across Connecticut. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (34.7%), vs 24.7% across Connecticut. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.7%, vs 5.8% across Connecticut. In all, Stonington runs above Connecticut on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 46% of residents are 65 or older (Connecticut 19%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓

More high blood pressure in Stonington, and more people treating it

40.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Connecticut 32%), but 83.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.5% statewide. Checkups ↓

Stonington keeps up with checkups

It beats Connecticut on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (86.4% vs 80.4%) and dentist visits (78.4% vs 70.7%). 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 Stonington’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Stonington’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stonington is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 98% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 74%.

ASelf-rated health13.7% · CT 16.2% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress12.4% · CT 12.4% · U.S. 13%
A+Mental distress12.1% · CT 15.8% · U.S. 15.9%
AObesity29% · CT 30.5% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.5% · CT 10.2% · U.S. 12%
A+Smoking6.8% smoke · CT 10.6% · U.S. 11.8%
A−Exercise20.9% · CT 25.1% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 90%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $82K–$136K (7,266)Healthier than 88%

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). Stonington’s median household income is $109,167; among the 7,266 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($82K–$136K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Stonington could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
A note on the data.the FBI's population for this police department (18,900) differs from the Census Bureau's figure (1,017)

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Stonington adults…

Stonington runs below CT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.

14 of every 100 Stonington adults have had cancer
Connecticut: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 12.6–15.4%
Better than CTWorseAbout the sameConnecticut
Why age matters here

Stonington is an older town: 46% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Connecticut. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Stonington as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Stonington46%
Connecticut19%
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Stonington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.

86%Yearly checkupCT 80%
78%Dentist visitCT 71%
94%Cholesterol checkCT 90%
80%Colon screeningCT 72%
80%MammogramCT 80%
84%Taking BP medsCT 77%
1 in 25
working-age adults has no health insurance
Stonington 4% · Connecticut 1 in 10 (10%)
Getting care

Care in and near Stonington

No hospital or community health center in Stonington itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERWesterly HospitalWesterly · 4.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyWesterly Hospital★★★★★ · 4.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careWood River Health ServicesWesterly · 4.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
4.1 mi
Wood River Health Services
3 sites · nearest in Westerly
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
4.3 mi
Westerly Hospital
Westerly · ★★★★★
ER
8.6 mi
Community Health Center, Incorporated
4 sites · nearest in Groton
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
10.8 mi
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital
New London · ★★★★★
ER
18.1 mi
William W Backus Hospital
Norwich · ★★★★★
ER
21.8 mi
South County Hospital
Wakefield · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careStonington is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careStonington is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthStonington is not a shortage area

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 Stonington; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut

Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.

Get no exercise 20.9%CT 25.1%
Sleep under 7 hours 31.9%CT 35.8%
Binge drink 12.3%CT 15.4%
Smoke cigarettes 6.8%CT 10.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Stonington, betterStonington, worseAbout the sameConnecticut
Where Stonington gets moving

0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Stonington adults are doing

On 3 of 4 measures, Stonington does better than Connecticut.

1 in 4Stonington adults feel lonely
26.6% · CT 33.2% · Better than CT
1 in 6Stonington adults lack social or emotional support
17.6% · CT 25.1% · Better than CT
1 in 5Stonington adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.4% · CT 20.6% · About the same as CT
1 in 8Stonington adults are in frequent mental distress
12.1% · CT 15.8% · Better than CT
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 4 Stonington adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

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 needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 17
Stonington adults worry about having enough food
6% · CT 14.9%
Better than CT
1 in 19
Stonington adults worry about keeping their housing
5.2% · CT 12.5%
Better than CT
1 in 26
Stonington adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
3.9% · CT 8.4%
Better than CT
1 in 24
Stonington adults lack reliable transportation
4.1% · CT 8.3%
Better than CT

4.6% of Stonington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.

Around town

Stonington and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
StoningtonA29%10.5%6.8%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

26.4%

of Stonington adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs12.3%
Thinking or memory9.4%
Hearing7.8%
Errands alone5.7%
Vision3.5%
Dressing or bathing2.9%
Connecticut

Every CDC estimate for Stonington

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Stonington is better than Connecticut on 16 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Stonington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…StoningtonCTU.S.vs CT
Overall health
Fair or poor health13.7%11.3–16.716.2%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12.4%10.5–14.512.4%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)12.1%10.5–13.915.8%15.9%Better
Conditions
Obesity29%24.7–34.130.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.5%8.9–12.210.2%12%About the same
High blood pressure40.4%37–44.232%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)42.7%39.3–46.638.4%37.1%Worse
Arthritis34.7%31.4–3824.7%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.2%10–12.611%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer14%12.6–15.48.5%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.7%6.6–8.85.8%6.4%Worse
COPD6.3%5–7.95.6%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.6%3.1–4.33.2%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)3.8%3–4.79.8%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes6.8%5–910.6%11.8%Better
No exercise outside work20.9%17.1–25.325.1%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking12.3%10.5–14.515.4%15.4%Better
Sleep under 7 hours31.9%27.9–36.335.8%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)4%3–5.410%11%Better
Checkup in the past year86.4%84.3–88.680.4%77.4%Better
Dentist visit in the past year78.4%76–80.870.7%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years94.2%93.1–95.289.5%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)83.5%81–8676.5%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)79.7%76.7–82.472.3%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)79.7%74.1–84.779.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.4%18.7–24.520.6%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely26.6%23.1–30.333.2%32.5%Better
Lack social and emotional support17.6%14.7–20.625.1%23.6%Better
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food6%4.4–7.814.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing5.2%4.1–6.612.5%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off3.9%3.1–4.78.4%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation4.1%3.4–58.3%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)4.6%3.3–6.311.7%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability26.4%22.7–30.625.3%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs12.3%10.1–14.911.3%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering9.4%7.8–11.212.3%13.9%Lower
Hearing difficulty7.8%6.7–8.95.9%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty3.5%2.9–4.24.8%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone5.7%4.6–6.97%7.9%Lower
Difficulty dressing or bathing2.9%2.4–3.53.5%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 Stonington

Is Stonington a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stonington is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Stonington?

CDC estimates 29% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.7% and 34.1%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Stonington?

Westerly Hospital in Westerly, 4.3 miles in a straight line from Stonington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Stonington have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3–5.4%), 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 Stonington 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 Stonington.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.