Photo: Daderot · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Lincoln is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Lincoln differs from Massachusetts on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 01773, 01731. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lincoln
Cancer and arthritis run high in Lincoln
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.7%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29.6%), vs 25.4% across Massachusetts. Conditions ↓
Lincoln keeps up with checkups
It beats Massachusetts on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.5% vs 80.9%) and dentist visits (78.5% vs 69.8%). Checkups ↓
Few Lincoln adults smoke
6.2% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 11.3% across Massachusetts. Habits ↓
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 Lincoln’s likely range; Lincoln’s figures come from ZIP codes 01773, 01731, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Lincoln’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lincoln is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #25 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than almost every town); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 88%.
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). Lincoln’s median household income is $175,117; among the 1,527 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($131K–$219K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Lincoln adults…
Lincoln runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lincoln adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
81 miles of trails across 66 parks and preserves
Care in and near Lincoln
No hospital or community health center in Lincoln 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 Lincoln; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Lincoln adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Lincoln does better than Massachusetts.
3 in 10 Lincoln 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.
5.6% of Lincoln adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Lincoln and the towns around it
Lincoln’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | A+ | 22% | 9.3% | 6.2% | ZIP codes |
| Concord | A+ | 22.6% | 8.6% | 6.9% | ZIP 01742 |
| Weston | A+ | 20.7% | 8.4% | 6.3% | ZIP 02493 |
| Bedford | A+ | 22.5% | 8.4% | 7.6% | ZIP codes |
| Waltham | A | 24% | 7.5% | 9.2% | CDC place |
| Lexington | — | — | — | — | |
| Lexington | A+ | 19.5% | 8.9% | 5.8% | ZIP codes |
| Wayland | A+ | 21.8% | 8.5% | 6.5% | ZIP 01778 |
Lexington: 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 Lincoln adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lincoln
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lincoln is better than Massachusetts on 20 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Lincoln’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lincoln | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.6%9.8–14.1 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.8%8.5–11.3 | 12.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.3–13.3 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22%18.9–25.2 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8–10.5 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.8%30.1–35.6 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%37.4–43.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 29.6%27.3–32.2 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.7–12 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.7%11.5–13.8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.6–7.4 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.7%3.8–5.9 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.6–3.6 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10%8.2–11.9 | 11.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.2%4.8–8.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.8%13.3–18.8 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%12.6–16 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.7%24.8–30.8 | 33.6% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 2.4%1.8–3.1 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.5%82.6–86.3 | 80.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 78.5%76.4–80.5 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 94.2%93.2–95 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%76.8–81.7 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 76.2%73.4–78.9 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 84.6%80.8–88 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%19.8–24.4 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.7%26.7–32.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17%14.7–19.4 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.2%3.9–6.8 | 12.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.2%4.2–6.4 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.4%2.7–4.1 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.2%3.5–5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.6%4.1–7.7 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.2%21.3–27.6 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.4%8.8–12.8 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.2%7.9–10.9 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6–7.9 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.5–3.6 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.4%4.5–6.7 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%1.9–2.8 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Lincoln
Is Lincoln a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lincoln is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #25 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lincoln?
CDC estimates 22% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.9% and 25.2%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lincoln?
Emerson Hospital in W Concord, 3.9 miles in a straight line from Lincoln’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lincoln have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 2.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 1.8–3.1%), 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 Lincoln more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lincoln.
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.