Where Boston residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Boston, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Boston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Boston
Boston keeps up with checkups
It beats Kentucky on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (66.5% vs 58.1%) and cholesterol checks (87.3% vs 84.2%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Boston adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Kentucky. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Boston is an active town
Only 22.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.9% across Kentucky. 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 Kentucky figure falls outside Boston’s likely range.
Keeping up with care
Share of Boston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.2% of Boston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Boston adults…
Boston runs below KY on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
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).
How Boston adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Boston does better than Kentucky.
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 |
|---|
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 (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Boston
Why doesn’t Boston have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Boston.
What hospital is closest to Boston?
Baptist Health Hardin in Elizabethtown, 9.8 miles in a straight line from Boston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Boston?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Promise Community Health Center-Elizabethtown in Elizabethtown, 9.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Boston.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kentucky figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. 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.