Photo: LibertyNALE · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Connecticut, Waterford is healthier than 38% of graded towns
Waterford differs from Connecticut on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 06385, 06375. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waterford
Connecticut sets a high bar
Waterford is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns, but only 38% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Waterford
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 8.5% across Connecticut. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29.1%), vs 24.7% across Connecticut. Conditions ↓
Fewer Waterford adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Connecticut. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nearly everyone in Waterford is insured
Only 6.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10% across Connecticut. 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 Waterford’s likely range; Waterford’s figures come from ZIP codes 06385, 06375, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Waterford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waterford is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns, #96 of 154 in Connecticut. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 91% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 64%.
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). Waterford’s median household income is $104,820; among the 7,866 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($79K–$131K), it’s healthier than 79%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Waterford adults…
Waterford runs above CT on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.9% of Waterford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Keeping up with care
Share of Waterford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
Care in and near Waterford
No hospital or community health center in Waterford itself. These are the nearest.
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 Waterford; ≈ 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.
26 miles of trails across 45 parks and preserves
How Waterford adults are doing
About the same as Connecticut on each measure.
3 in 10 Waterford 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.
Waterford and the towns around it
Waterford’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford | A− | 30.3% | 9.6% | 9.1% | ZIP codes |
| New London | C+ | 36.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| East Lyme | A | 28.9% | 9% | 8% | ZIP codes |
| Niantic | — | — | — | — | |
| Waterford | — | — | — | — | |
| Montville | A− | 31.9% | 9.6% | 10.9% | ZIP codes |
| Ledyard | A | 31% | 8.7% | 9.6% | ZIP codes |
| Groton | A− | 30.6% | 8.8% | 9.5% | ZIP codes |
Niantic and Waterford: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waterford adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waterford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waterford is better than Connecticut on 7 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Waterford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waterford | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.3%13.3–17.5 | 16.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.3–14.5 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.9–16.5 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.3%25.8–35.5 | 30.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.6%8.4–11.1 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.9%32.7–39.3 | 32% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%35–41.8 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.1%26.4–32.1 | 24.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10.1–12.8 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.5–11.5 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.3–7 | 5.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.7%7–10.7 | 9.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.1%7.6–10.8 | 10.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%20.3–27.1 | 25.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12.6–17.2 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%30.4–39 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.5–7.9 | 10% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.6%80.2–85.2 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 75.7%73.1–78.2 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.4%90.1–92.6 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.9%76.3–81.5 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.5%71–78 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.6%75.3–85.4 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%19.5–25.3 | 20.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.3%26.7–34.1 | 33.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.1%19.2–25.2 | 25.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.2%7.7–10.8 | 14.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.2%6.9–9.5 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.6–6.3 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%4.9–6.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.9%5.7–8.3 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.1%24.1–30.7 | 25.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10.3–13.6 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 12.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.7 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.4–4.3 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.7–3.4 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Waterford
Is Waterford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waterford is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #96 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 79%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waterford?
CDC estimates 30.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.8% and 35.5%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waterford?
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, 2.5 miles in a straight line from Waterford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waterford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–7.9%), 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 Waterford 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 Waterford.
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.