Photo: en:User:LymanSchool (Richard B. Johnson) · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, East Brookfield is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns
East Brookfield differs from Massachusetts on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 01515. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Brookfield
What’s behind East Brookfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Brookfield is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 82% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). East Brookfield’s median household income is $81,042; among the 10,708 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$101K), it’s healthier than 81%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 East Brookfield adults…
East Brookfield runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
East Brookfield is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Massachusetts. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in East Brookfield as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near East Brookfield
No hospital or community health center in East Brookfield 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 East Brookfield; ≈ 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.
6.8 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of East Brookfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
How East Brookfield adults are doing
About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.
1 in 3 East Brookfield 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12% of East Brookfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
East Brookfield and the towns around it
East Brookfield’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Brookfield | B+ | 32.1% | 9.9% | 12.7% | ZIP 01515 |
| Brookfield | B− | 34.7% | 11.8% | 15.2% | ZIP 01506 |
| East Brookfield | — | — | — | — | |
| North Brookfield | B | 33.9% | 10.7% | 14.6% | ZIP 01535 |
| Sturbridge | A | 30.6% | 9.1% | 10.3% | ZIP codes |
| Charlton | A− | 31.2% | 9.2% | 11.6% | ZIP 01507 |
East Brookfield: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Brookfield adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Brookfield
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Brookfield is better than Massachusetts on 4 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside East Brookfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Brookfield | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16%13.7–18.4 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.9–15.2 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.4–19.3 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.1%27.9–36.6 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.6–11.4 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.8%30.9–36.7 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.4%33.4–39.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.7%26.2–31.4 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%11.1–13.8 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.7–10.5 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.6–7.6 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.7–3.4 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.3%6.7–10 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%10.4–15.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.2%18.9–25.5 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%16.3–21.1 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.6%29.8–37.3 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.9%3.1–4.9 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%79.4–84.1 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.3%68.4–73.7 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.4%89–91.9 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.3%73.5–79 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70%66.3–73.3 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.8%79–87.5 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%23.8–29.7 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%30.2–37.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.4%20.6–26.6 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.2%8.3–12.4 | 12.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%7.4–10.6 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.1–7.2 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.3%5.4–7.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12%9.7–14.6 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.6%24.3–30.9 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%10.1–13.6 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%12.1–15.8 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.1–4.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.6–3.4 | 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 East Brookfield
Is East Brookfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Brookfield is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 81%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in East Brookfield?
CDC estimates 32.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.9% and 36.6%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Brookfield?
Umass Memorial Health - Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, 9.2 miles in a straight line from East Brookfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Brookfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.1–4.9%), 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 East Brookfield 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 East Brookfield.
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.