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Milton MA Main Post Office 03Photo: Jameslwoodward · CC BY-SA 3.0
A+Health Grade
Health in Milton · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Milton is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns

Milton beats Massachusetts on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 02186. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Milton

Against towns with similar incomes, Milton’s lead shrinks

Milton is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, but 71% of the 1,158 towns with similar household incomes ($141K–$236K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓

Milton is an active town

Only 15.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 21.7% across Massachusetts. The town has 53 miles of trails across 21 parks and preserves. Habits ↓

Fewer Milton adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Massachusetts. 1 in 12 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

Milton has a top-rated hospital

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓

Few Milton adults smoke

7.9% 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 Milton’s likely range; Milton’s figures come from ZIP code 02186, which may reach past town lines.

Health Grade

What’s behind Milton’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milton is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, #41 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 88%.

A+Self-rated health12.2% · MA 16.3% · U.S. 19.4%
APhysical distress10.3% · MA 12.3% · U.S. 13%
AMental distress14.2% · MA 16.2% · U.S. 15.9%
A+Obesity23.5% · MA 27.7% · U.S. 32.9%
ADiabetes8.7% · MA 9.8% · U.S. 12%
A+Smoking7.9% smoke · MA 11.3% · U.S. 11.8%
A+Exercise15.4% · MA 21.7% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 97%
Less healthyHealthier
Massachusetts towns we grade (279)Healthier than 85%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $141K–$236K (1,158)Healthier than 71%

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). Milton’s median household income is $188,529; among the 1,158 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($141K–$236K), it’s healthier than 71%, 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, Milton could be anywhere from A to A+. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 02186), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts

Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.

Get no exercise 15.4%MA 21.7%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.2%MA 33.6%
Binge drink 17.1%MA 17%
Smoke cigarettes 7.9%MA 11.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Milton, betterMilton, worseAbout the sameMassachusetts
Where Milton gets moving

53 miles of trails across 21 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
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 12
Milton adults worry about having enough food
8.2% · MA 12.4%
Better than MA
1 in 13
Milton adults worry about keeping their housing
7.6% · MA 11.1%
Better than MA
1 in 20
Milton adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.1% · MA 7%
Better than MA
1 in 18
Milton adults lack reliable transportation
5.6% · MA 7.6%
Better than MA

9.2% of Milton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.

Getting care

Care in and near Milton

1 hospital in Milton, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERBeth Israel Deaconess Hospital - MiltonMilton · 0.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyBrigham and Women Faulkner Hospital★★★★★ · 4.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMattapan Community Health CenterMattapan · 2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.8 mi
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton
Milton · ★★★★★
ERIn Milton
2 mi
Mattapan Community Health Center
Mattapan · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
2.2 mi
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
2 sites · nearest in Mattapan
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
2.7 mi
Carney Hospital
Boston · not rated
ER
4.7 mi
Brigham and Women Faulkner Hospital
Jamaica Plain · ★★★★★
ER
6.1 mi
VA Boston Healthcare System - Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain · ★★★★★
ERFor veterans
✓ Primary careMilton is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careMilton is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthMilton 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 Milton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Milton adults…

Milton runs below MA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

4 of every 100 Milton adults have COPD
Massachusetts: 6 in 100 · better · likely 3.9–5%
Better than MAWorseAbout the sameMassachusetts
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

82%Yearly checkupMA 81%
76%Dentist visitMA 70%
92%Cholesterol checkMA 90%
72%Colon screeningMA 68%
87%MammogramMA 84%
77%Taking BP medsMA 75%
1 in 32
working-age adults has no health insurance
Milton 3.1% · Massachusetts 1 in 19 (5.2%)
Mind & connection

How Milton adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Milton does better than Massachusetts.

1 in 3Milton adults feel lonely
32.2% · MA 34.2% · About the same as MA
1 in 5Milton adults lack social or emotional support
21.5% · MA 23.4% · About the same as MA
1 in 5Milton adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.8% · MA 23.8% · About the same as MA
1 in 7Milton adults are in frequent mental distress
14.2% · MA 16.2% · Better than MA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Milton 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

Milton and the towns around it

Milton has the best Health Grade of the 4 graded towns around it.

Boston: 23.4%Randolph Town: 28.5%Quincy: 22.9%Brookline: 20%Cambridge: 21.9%Winthrop Town: 22.9%Dedham: 24.3%Revere: 25.7%Newton: 21.2%Chelsea: 28.7%Watertown: no dataEverett: 31%Hull: 28.3%Braintree Town: 23.5%Holbrook: 27%Avon: 27.6%Weymouth Town: 25.5%Milton: 23.5%MiltonBostonRandolph TownQuincyBeth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton · Milton · 0.8 mi · 4★ MedicareHCarney Hospital · Boston · 2.7 miHBrigham and Women Faulkner Hospital · Jamaica Plain · 4.7 mi · 5★ MedicareHVA Boston Healthcare System - Jamaica Plain · Jamaica Plain · 6.1 mi · 4★ MedicareHMattapan Community Health Center · Mattapan · 2 mi+Transitions · Mattapan · 2.2 mi+
Healthier than MANear MALess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#7 of 17 towns on this map, healthiest first
Quincy22.9%
Boston23.4%
Milton23.5%
Randolph Town28.5%
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
MiltonA+23.5%8.7%7.9%ZIP 02186
Milton————
BostonA−23.4%8.6%10.7%CDC place
Randolph TownB+28.5%12.2%11.8%CDC place
QuincyA22.9%10.1%11%CDC place

Milton: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

22.9%

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

Walking or climbing stairs9.5%
Thinking or memory11.3%
Hearing5.2%
Errands alone5.6%
Vision3.1%
Dressing or bathing2.4%
Massachusetts

Every CDC estimate for Milton

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Milton is better than Massachusetts on 17 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Milton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…MiltonMAU.S.vs MA
Overall health
Fair or poor health12.2%10.8–13.816.3%19.4%Better
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)10.3%9.1–11.512.3%13%Better
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)14.2%12.6–15.816.2%15.9%Better
Conditions
Obesity23.5%19.9–27.527.7%32.9%Better
Diabetes8.7%7.6–9.89.8%12%About the same
High blood pressure29.8%27–32.630.9%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35.4%32.3–38.535.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis25.5%23.1–2825.4%25.3%About the same
Asthma11.1%9.9–12.411.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.2%8.4–108.5%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease4.9%4.4–5.55.8%6.4%Better
COPD4.4%3.9–55.9%6.3%Better
Stroke2.6%2.4–2.93%3.4%Better
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)7.1%5.7–8.611.9%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes7.9%6.8–9.211.3%11.8%Better
No exercise outside work15.4%13.2–17.721.7%24.7%Better
Binge drinking17.1%14.8–19.517%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.2%28.4–3633.6%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)3.1%2.6–3.75.2%11%Better
Checkup in the past year82.4%80–84.880.9%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year75.7%73.1–7869.8%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years91.9%90.6–9389.7%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)76.7%73.8–79.475.4%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)71.6%68–74.968.4%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)86.7%82.6–90.183.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.8%19.2–24.623.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32.2%28.9–35.634.2%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.5%19–24.223.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food8.2%7–9.512.4%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing7.6%6.6–8.811.1%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.1%4.4–5.97%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation5.6%4.9–6.47.6%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)9.2%7.8–10.714.1%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability22.9%20.4–25.727.3%30.1%Lower
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs9.5%8.3–10.811.6%13.6%Lower
Difficulty concentrating or remembering11.3%10–12.713.7%13.9%Lower
Hearing difficulty5.2%4.6–5.86%6.7%Lower
Vision difficulty3.1%2.8–3.44.1%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone5.6%5–6.37.2%7.9%Lower
Difficulty dressing or bathing2.4%2.2–2.63.1%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 Milton

Is Milton a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milton is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #41 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 71%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Milton?

CDC estimates 23.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.9% and 27.5%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Milton?

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton in Milton, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Milton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Milton have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 3.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.6–3.7%), 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 Milton 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 Milton.

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.