Photo: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Fall River is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Fall River trails Massachusetts on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fall River. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fall River
Every town around Fall River scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Fall River’s C−, from Westport (B+) to Tiverton (A). Around town ↓
Smoking is more common in Fall River
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.3%), about twice the Massachusetts rate. Habits ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Fall River
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.2%), vs 3% across Massachusetts. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.9%, vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. In all, Fall River runs above Massachusetts on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Fall River adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (37.5%, vs 27.3% across Massachusetts). The biggest difference is vision loss: 7% vs 4.1%. Disability ↓
Fall River has a top-rated hospital
Southcoast Hospitals Group is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Fall River’s likely range.
What’s behind Fall River’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fall River is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #276 of 279 in Massachusetts. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 57% 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). Fall River’s median household income is $56,673; among the 7,916 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Fall River and the towns around it
Fall River’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall River | C− | 35.3% | 12.5% | 21.3% | CDC place |
| Westport | B+ | 30% | 10.6% | 14% | ZIP codes |
| North Westport | — | — | — | — | |
| Freetown | A− | 29.4% | 9.1% | 12.6% | ZIP codes |
| Somerset | — | — | — | — | |
| Somerset | A− | 29.1% | 9.8% | 12.8% | ZIP codes |
North Westport and Somerset: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
95 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Fall River adults…
Fall River runs above MA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Fall River
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Fall River, 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 Fall River; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fall River adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fall River adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
How Fall River adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Fall River runs above Massachusetts.
4 in 10 Fall River 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.
29.5% of Fall River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Every CDC estimate for Fall River
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fall River is better than Massachusetts on 0 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Fall River’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fall River | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.6%24.2–29.1 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%16.2–19.6 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.8%19.8–24 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.3%30.8–39.7 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.5%11.1–14 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%32.5–38.2 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%33.7–39.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%26.8–31.7 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.8%12.4–15.2 | 11.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%9.3–11.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.1%17.9–24.5 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.3%19.1–23.6 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.2%28–34.8 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%14.1–18.7 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%33.5–41.5 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.7–10.1 | 5.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77.9–83 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59%55.8–61.9 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.4–87.5 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.3%71.6–76.9 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.2%58.3–65.9 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.8%74.4–84.4 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.9%23.1–28.8 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%32.9–40.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.6%24.7–30.8 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.5%21.2–26.1 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19%17–21.2 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.5%11.2–14.1 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.6%11.4–14.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 29.5%27–32.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5%34.4–40.9 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.9%16.2–19.8 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.4%18.6–22.4 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.2–8.9 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.5–7.6 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%11.1–13.3 | 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 Fall River
Is Fall River a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fall River is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #276 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fall River?
CDC estimates 35.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 39.7%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fall River?
Southcoast Hospitals Group in Fall River, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Fall River’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fall River have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–10.1%), 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 Fall River more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fall River.
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.