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Lunenburg Town Hall and Hadwen Park Market, Lunenburg MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
A−Health Grade
Health in Lunenburg · CDC PLACES 2025

Within Massachusetts, Lunenburg is healthier than 35% of graded towns

Lunenburg differs from Massachusetts on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 2 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 01462. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Lunenburg

Massachusetts sets a high bar

Lunenburg is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, but only 35% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓

Against towns with similar incomes, Lunenburg’s lead shrinks

Lunenburg is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, but 64% of the 6,768 towns with similar household incomes ($85K–$141K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓

Cancer runs high in Lunenburg

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.8%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. Conditions ↓

Fewer Lunenburg adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Massachusetts. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. 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 Lunenburg’s likely range; Lunenburg’s figures come from ZIP code 01462, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Lunenburg’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lunenburg is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, #182 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 84% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 63%.

A−Self-rated health15.2% · MA 16.3% · U.S. 19.4%
B+Physical distress12.9% · MA 12.3% · U.S. 13%
BMental distress16.3% · MA 16.2% · U.S. 15.9%
A−Obesity31.4% · MA 27.7% · U.S. 32.9%
A−Diabetes9.7% · MA 9.8% · U.S. 12%
A−Smoking11.3% smoke · MA 11.3% · U.S. 11.8%
A−Exercise20.8% · MA 21.7% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 81%
Less healthyHealthier
Massachusetts towns we grade (279)Healthier than 35%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $85K–$141K (6,768)Healthier than 64%

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). Lunenburg’s median household income is $112,828; among the 6,768 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($85K–$141K), it’s healthier than 64%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Lunenburg could be anywhere from B to A. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 01462), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 11
Lunenburg adults worry about having enough food
9.5% · MA 12.4%
Better than MA
1 in 12
Lunenburg adults worry about keeping their housing
8.5% · MA 11.1%
Better than MA
1 in 17
Lunenburg adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.9% · MA 7%
Better than MA
1 in 17
Lunenburg adults lack reliable transportation
6% · MA 7.6%
Better than MA

11% of Lunenburg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Lunenburg adults…

Lunenburg runs above MA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Lunenburg adults have had cancer
Massachusetts: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 8.9–10.7%
Better than MAWorseAbout the sameMassachusetts
Getting care

Care in and near Lunenburg

No hospital or community health center in Lunenburg itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERUmass Memorial Healthalliance HospitalsLeominster · 3.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyEmerson Hospital★★★★★ · 19.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health ConnectionsLeominster · 3.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3.6 mi
Umass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals
Leominster · ★★★★★
ER
3.8 mi
Community Health Connections
5 sites · nearest in Leominster
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
7.9 mi
Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Ayer · not rated
ER
13.5 mi
Heywood Hospital
Gardner · ★★★★★
ER
16.8 mi
St. Joseph Hospital
Nashua · ★★★★★
ER
17.8 mi
Integreat Health
Nashua · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
✓ Primary careLunenburg is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careLunenburg is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthLunenburg is not a shortage area

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 Lunenburg; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts

Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.

Get no exercise 20.8%MA 21.7%
Sleep under 7 hours 33.1%MA 33.6%
Binge drink 18.2%MA 17%
Smoke cigarettes 11.3%MA 11.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Lunenburg, betterLunenburg, worseAbout the sameMassachusetts
Where Lunenburg gets moving

63 miles of trails across 27 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Lunenburg adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.

82%Yearly checkupMA 81%
74%Dentist visitMA 70%
91%Cholesterol checkMA 90%
71%Colon screeningMA 68%
87%MammogramMA 84%
77%Taking BP medsMA 75%
1 in 26
working-age adults has no health insurance
Lunenburg 3.8% · Massachusetts 1 in 19 (5.2%)
Mind & connection

How Lunenburg adults are doing

About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.

1 in 3Lunenburg adults feel lonely
32.5% · MA 34.2% · About the same as MA
1 in 5Lunenburg adults lack social or emotional support
22.1% · MA 23.4% · About the same as MA
1 in 4Lunenburg adults have been diagnosed with depression
26% · MA 23.8% · About the same as MA
1 in 6Lunenburg adults are in frequent mental distress
16.3% · MA 16.2% · About the same as MA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Lunenburg adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Lunenburg and the towns around it

Lunenburg’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 graded towns around it.

Fitchburg: 35.6%Leominster: 34%Shirley: 27.3%Townsend: 26.8%Ashby: 26.2%Westminster: 31.6%Ashburnham: 32.7%Lancaster: 30.8%Princeton: 30.1%Groton: 24.2%Ayer: 26.7%Devens: 32.9%Harvard: 29.7%Pepperell: 25.9%Brookline: 31.3%Lunenburg: 31.4%LunenburgFitchburgLeominsterShirleyTownsendAshbyUmass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals · Leominster · 3.6 mi · 3★ MedicareHNashoba Valley Medical Center · Ayer · 7.9 miHLeominster Community Health and Urgent Care Center · Leominster · 3.8 mi+
Healthier than MANear MALess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#11 of 16 towns on this map, healthiest first
Ashby26.2%
Townsend26.8%
Shirley27.3%
Lunenburg31.4%
Leominster34%
Fitchburg35.6%
MA27.7%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
LunenburgA−31.4%9.7%11.3%ZIP 01462
FitchburgC+35.6%11.6%14.7%CDC place
LeominsterB34%10.9%13.4%CDC place
ShirleyA27.3%9%11.8%ZIP codes
AshbyA26.2%8.9%11.5%ZIP 01431
TownsendA−26.8%9.2%12.1%ZIP codes

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

26.4%

of Lunenburg adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs11.4%
Thinking or memory12.9%
Hearing6%
Errands alone6.7%
Vision3.5%
Dressing or bathing2.9%
Massachusetts

Every CDC estimate for Lunenburg

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lunenburg is better than Massachusetts on 7 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Lunenburg’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…LunenburgMAU.S.vs MA
Overall health
Fair or poor health15.2%13.1–17.316.3%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12.9%11.3–14.412.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.3%14.6–18.116.2%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity31.4%27.4–35.727.7%32.9%About the same
Diabetes9.7%8.5–119.8%12%About the same
High blood pressure33.4%30.6–36.330.9%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.4%33.5–39.535.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis28.6%26.2–31.125.4%25.3%Worse
Asthma12.3%11.1–13.611.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.8%8.9–10.78.5%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease5.9%5.2–6.65.8%6.4%About the same
COPD6.1%5.2–7.15.9%6.3%About the same
Stroke3%2.7–3.33%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)12.5%10.2–14.911.9%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes11.3%9.3–13.311.3%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work20.8%17.9–2421.7%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18.2%15.8–20.617%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours33.1%29.2–36.733.6%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)3.8%3–4.65.2%11%Better
Checkup in the past year82.4%80–84.680.9%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year73.6%70.9–75.969.8%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years91.3%90–92.589.7%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)76.5%73.8–79.175.4%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)71%67.5–74.168.4%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)86.5%82.4–89.783.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression26%23.3–28.923.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32.5%29.2–35.934.2%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.1%19.3–24.823.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9.5%7.7–11.212.4%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing8.5%7.1–9.811.1%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.9%5–6.87%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation6%5.1–6.97.6%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)11%8.9–13.214.1%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability26.4%23.4–29.427.3%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs11.4%9.8–1311.6%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering12.9%11.3–14.713.7%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6%5.3–6.76%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty3.5%3.1–3.94.1%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone6.7%5.8–7.77.2%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing2.9%2.5–3.33.1%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 Lunenburg

Is Lunenburg a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lunenburg is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #182 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 64%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Lunenburg?

CDC estimates 31.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.4% and 35.7%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Lunenburg?

Umass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals in Leominster, 3.6 miles in a straight line from Lunenburg’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Lunenburg have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 3.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3–4.6%), 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 Lunenburg 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 Lunenburg.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.