Photo: Daderot · Public domainWithin Massachusetts, Framingham is healthier than 33% of graded towns
Framingham trails Massachusetts on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Framingham. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Framingham
Massachusetts sets a high bar
Framingham is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, but only 33% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Framingham
1 in 10 adults lack reliable transportation (9.6%), vs 7.6% across Massachusetts. Housing insecurity (13.4% vs 11.1%) is higher too. 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 Framingham’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Framingham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Framingham is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, #186 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 93% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 53%.
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). Framingham’s median household income is $107,419; among the 7,557 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$134K), it’s healthier than 68%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.5% of Framingham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Out of every 100 Framingham adults…
On every condition, Framingham is about the same as Massachusetts. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Framingham
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Framingham, 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 Framingham; ≈ 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.
71 miles of trails across 66 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Framingham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
How Framingham adults are doing
About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.
4 in 10 Framingham 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.
Framingham and the towns around it
Framingham’s Health Grade ranks 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Framingham | A− | 26.3% | 9.5% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Wayland | A+ | 21.8% | 8.5% | 6.5% | ZIP 01778 |
| Natick | A+ | 23% | 8.1% | 7.9% | ZIP 01760 |
| Ashland | A+ | 24% | 8.4% | 9% | ZIP 01721 |
| Sherborn | A+ | 21.9% | 7.5% | 6.1% | ZIP 01770 |
| Southborough | A+ | 27% | 8.2% | 7.1% | ZIP codes |
| Marlborough | A− | 27.1% | 9.6% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Sudbury | A+ | 22.1% | 7.8% | 6.4% | ZIP 01776 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Framingham adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Framingham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Framingham is better than Massachusetts on 0 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Framingham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Framingham | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.3%15.6–18.9 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.8–13.2 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.4–18.5 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.3%23–29.9 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 28.9%26.6–31.2 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.8%32.3–37.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.1%22.2–26.1 | 25.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.2%11.1–13.5 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.5 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.6%5–6.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.8%9.1–12.8 | 11.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.9%19.5–24.4 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%14.4–18.2 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%30.1–36.7 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.7–7.5 | 5.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%76.8–81.4 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.9%66.4–71.2 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.1%87.9–90.3 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.2%69.6–74.8 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70%66.9–72.9 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.4%78.4–86.1 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%22.7–27.6 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.1%33–39.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%21.5–26.5 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%13.3–16.4 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.4%12–14.9 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.6–10.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.5%14.8–18.2 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.7%26.2–31.3 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%10.5–13.1 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.3%13.9–16.8 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.4–5.2 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7.4–9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 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 Framingham
Is Framingham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Framingham is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #186 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 68%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Framingham?
CDC estimates 26.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 23% and 29.9%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Framingham?
Metrowest Medical Center in Framingham, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Framingham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Framingham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–7.5%), 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 Framingham 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 Framingham.
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.