Photo: ToddC4176 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Bernardston is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns
Bernardston differs from Massachusetts on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 01337. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bernardston
Cancer, COPD and arthritis run high in Bernardston
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.6%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.8%), vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. Arthritis is also above the state: 33%, vs 25.4% across Massachusetts. In all, Bernardston runs above Massachusetts on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Bernardston adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing and getting around all run below Massachusetts. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Bernardston’s likely range; Bernardston’s figures come from ZIP code 01337, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A+.
What’s behind Bernardston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bernardston is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 94% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 54%.
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). Bernardston’s median household income is $81,940; among the 10,629 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Bernardston adults…
Bernardston runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. 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.
11.9% of Bernardston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Care in and near Bernardston
No hospital or community health center in Bernardston 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 Bernardston; ≈ 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 Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bernardston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
How Bernardston adults are doing
About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.
1 in 3 Bernardston 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.
Bernardston and the towns around it
Bernardston’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernardston | A− | 25.9% | 10.8% | 12.7% | ZIP 01337 |
| Leyden | — | — | — | — | |
| Greenfield | B | 27.5% | 11% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Gill | A− | 25.9% | 10.5% | 12.7% | ZIP 01354 |
Leyden: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bernardston adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bernardston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bernardston is better than Massachusetts on 7 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Bernardston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bernardston | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.7%13.4–20.3 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%11.7–16.3 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.4–18 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.9%20.4–32.2 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.1–12.8 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.2%33–41.7 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%34.8–43.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33%29.3–37 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.5–13.5 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.6%10.4–12.8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.5–8.7 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.2–9.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.5%7.6–11.6 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%9.5–16 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.3%16.7–26.4 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13–18.8 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%28.7–39.8 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.8%2.8–5 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.9%79.5–85.6 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.1%66.8–73.2 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.7%90–93.1 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%75.3–81.6 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.6%69.3–77.7 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%73.8–86.1 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%21.6–29.1 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.6%27.5–37.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22%17.9–26.1 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.3%6.8–12.1 | 12.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.3%6.4–10.2 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.9%4.6–7.1 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6%4.8–7.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.9%8.7–15.5 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4%24.6–34.3 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.8%11.2–16.7 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.5%11.1–16 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.9 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.3–4.8 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.1–9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%2.8–4.2 | 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 Bernardston
Is Bernardston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bernardston is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns: ≈ A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bernardston?
CDC estimates 25.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.4% and 32.2%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bernardston?
Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, 6.8 miles in a straight line from Bernardston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bernardston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.8–5%), 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 Bernardston more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bernardston.
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.