Photo: Nwalsh (Uploads) · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Belchertown is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Belchertown differs from Massachusetts on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 01007. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Belchertown
Massachusetts sets a high bar
Belchertown is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, but only 62% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Belchertown adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Massachusetts. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Belchertown is an active town
Only 17.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 21.7% across Massachusetts. The town has 94 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Nearly everyone in Belchertown is insured
Only 3.5% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.2% across Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts figure falls outside Belchertown’s likely range; Belchertown’s figures come from ZIP code 01007, 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 Belchertown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Belchertown is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #107 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 96% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 71%.
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). Belchertown’s median household income is $108,068; among the 7,443 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$135K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.
Most Massachusetts towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Belchertown is healthier than 62% of graded towns, against 90% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.5% of Belchertown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
94 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Belchertown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Out of every 100 Belchertown adults…
Belchertown runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Belchertown
No hospital or community health center in Belchertown 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 Belchertown; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Belchertown adults are doing
About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.
1 in 3 Belchertown 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.
Belchertown and the towns around it
Belchertown’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belchertown | A | 24.2% | 9.1% | 10.9% | ZIP 01007 |
| New Salem | A | 24.6% | 10.2% | 9.9% | ZIP codes |
| Ware | C+ | 28.4% | 11.6% | 16.9% | ZIP 01082 |
| Palmer Town | B− | 33% | 10.7% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Pelham | A | 21.6% | 8% | 9.3% | ZIP codes |
| Ludlow | B− | 33% | 11% | 14.9% | ZIP 01056 |
| Amherst Town | A | 18.5% | 5.2% | 7.4% | CDC place |
| Granby | A | 23.8% | 9.2% | 11.5% | ZIP 01033 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Belchertown adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Belchertown
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Belchertown is better than Massachusetts on 10 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Belchertown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Belchertown | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14%12.2–16 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%10.8–13.8 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14–17.6 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.2%19.7–29.1 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.9%26.6–33.2 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.5%29.8–37.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27%24.1–30 | 25.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12%10.7–13.4 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.8–10.6 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6%5.2–6.8 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.2 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.1%6.5–10.1 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.9%9.1–12.8 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.3%14.5–20.3 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.9–19.3 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.7%26.9–37 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.5%2.9–4.3 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%79.4–84.8 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.4%70.4–76.3 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.2%89.8–92.3 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.4%73.1–79.4 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.6%68.4–76.7 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.3%77.9–88 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%23.3–30.1 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.4%29.4–37.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.3%18.5–24.4 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.7%7.2–10.3 | 12.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.2%6.9–9.6 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%4.9–6.7 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.1%5.3–7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.5%8.8–12.4 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25%21.8–28.4 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.7%9.3–12.3 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%11.1–14.2 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.3–6.7 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–3.8 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.9–7.5 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 3.1% | 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 Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Belchertown
Is Belchertown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Belchertown is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #107 of 279 in Massachusetts. 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 Belchertown?
CDC estimates 24.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.7% and 29.1%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Belchertown?
Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer, 8.2 miles in a straight line from Belchertown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Belchertown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.9–4.3%), against 5.2% across Massachusetts.
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 Belchertown 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 Belchertown.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts 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.