Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 2.5On CDC estimates, Boston is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Boston differs from Georgia on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Boston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Boston
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Boston
1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.3%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (18.8%), vs 13.3% across Georgia. COPD is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 6.5% across Georgia. In all, Boston runs above Georgia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Boston
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.2%), vs 17.7% across Georgia. Utility shut-off threats (14.6% vs 9.6%) and housing insecurity (21.3% vs 15%) are higher too. 23.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Boston is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Boston is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, obesity, diabetes and exercise. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Boston, and more people treating it
47.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Georgia 37.4%), but 82% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Boston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Boston is healthier than 10%. Against the 3,898 towns with similar household incomes ($34K–$56K), it’s healthier than 35%. Health Grade ↓
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 Georgia figure falls outside Boston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Boston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Boston is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 27% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Boston’s median household income is $44,728; among the 3,898 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$56K), it’s healthier than 35%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Boston compares well: binge drinking, 11.7% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 81.9% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Boston adults…
Boston runs above GA on 8 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.
23.8% of Boston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Keeping up with care
Share of Boston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Care in and near Boston
No hospital or community health center in Boston 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 Boston; ≈ 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 Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Boston adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
2 in 5 Boston 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.
Boston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | D | 43.7% | 18.8% | 17.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Boston adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Boston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Boston is better than Georgia on 3 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Boston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Boston | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27%23.3–30.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.3–18.6 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.3–20.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.7%36–51.6 | 35.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.8%16.4–21.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.2%42.8–51.5 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%35.3–44 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.7%27.2–34.2 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.7 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.7–10 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.5%12.8–18.7 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.5%14.7–20.4 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.2%28.1–38.7 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.7%9.5–14.1 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.5%37.9–51.4 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.4%11.9–17 | 13.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%78.9–84.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.4%48.7–56.4 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.6–89 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82%79.7–84.2 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.2%59.1–69.4 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%67.3–81.6 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.6%15.6–21.8 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.4%33.1–44.2 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.9%23.9–32.4 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.2%22.1–30.9 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.3%18.3–24.8 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.6%12.6–17 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.1%11.3–15.3 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.8%20–28.2 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%31.7–41.3 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20%17.4–22.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.5–19 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.7 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9.1 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.2–13.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 4.2% | 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 Georgia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Boston
Is Boston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Boston is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 35%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Boston?
CDC estimates 43.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36% and 51.6%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Boston?
Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, 11.2 miles in a straight line from Boston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Boston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.9–17%), against 13.1% across Georgia.
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 Boston more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Boston.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Georgia 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.