Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Brockton as a whole is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Brockton differs from Massachusetts on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brockton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brockton
Every town around Brockton scores healthier
All five graded neighbors are ahead of Brockton’s C−, from Whitman (B+) to West Bridgewater (A). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Brockton
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.9%), about twice the Massachusetts rate. Utility shut-off threats (15.1% vs 7%) and housing insecurity (23% vs 11.1%) are higher too. 30.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Brockton adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (31.9%), vs 23.4% across Massachusetts. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 21.4%, vs 16.2% across Massachusetts. Mind & connection ↓
More Brockton adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (37.9%, vs 27.3% across Massachusetts). The biggest difference is vision loss: 7.1% vs 4.1%. Disability ↓
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 Brockton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Brockton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brockton is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns, #274 of 279 in Massachusetts. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 52% of U.S. towns); mental distress 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). Brockton’s median household income is $80,115; among the 10,749 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 10%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Most Massachusetts towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Brockton is healthier than 2% of graded towns, against 20% nationally.
Where Brockton compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.8% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 106,134 residents, Brockton is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Brockton and the towns around it
Brockton’s Health Grade ranks 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brockton | C− | 35.9% | 13.4% | 17.7% | CDC place |
| Abington | — | — | — | — | |
| Abington | A− | 29.2% | 9.2% | 12.1% | ZIP 02351 |
| West Bridgewater | A | 28.2% | 9.3% | 11% | ZIP 02379 |
| East Bridgewater | A− | 29.3% | 9.5% | 12.4% | ZIP 02333 |
| Whitman | B+ | 29.9% | 9.2% | 13.3% | ZIP 02382 |
| Easton | A− | 29.3% | 9.3% | 11.6% | ZIP codes |
Abington: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
30.3% of Brockton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
How Brockton adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Brockton runs above Massachusetts.
2 in 5 Brockton 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Brockton adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Out of every 100 Brockton adults…
Brockton runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Brockton
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Brockton, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Brockton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
17 miles of trails across 28 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Brockton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Every CDC estimate for Brockton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brockton is better than Massachusetts on 1 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Brockton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brockton | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.4%21.8–26.7 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.6–18 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.4%19.2–23.3 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.9%30.7–40.4 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.7–14.9 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.6%32.3–38.4 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%32.4–38.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%24–29 | 25.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 14.4%12.8–15.9 | 11.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.8%6.1–7.4 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6.1–7.3 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.5–9.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18%15.3–21.5 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%15.5–19.7 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.8%25.1–32.1 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.9–17.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.1%38.2–46.9 | 33.6% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%7.2–9.5 | 5.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%77.7–83.2 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.3%57.3–63.6 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.6–88.7 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.5%71.4–77 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.7%62.1–69.9 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.3%79–87.8 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.3–27.1 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.4%35.5–43.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.9%28.5–35.4 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.9%23.2–28.7 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23%20.7–25.6 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.1%13.4–16.8 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.5%13–16.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.3%27.6–33.1 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.9%34.2–41.1 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.7%14.8–18.4 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%18–21.8 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.4 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.5–7.7 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%10.2–12.3 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5–5.9 | 3.1% | 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 Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Brockton
Is Brockton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brockton is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #274 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 10%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brockton?
CDC estimates 35.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 40.4%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brockton?
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital in Brockton, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Brockton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Brockton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–9.5%), 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 Brockton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Brockton.
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.