Photo: The original uploader was ColWilliam at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5On CDC estimates, New Salem is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
New Salem differs from Massachusetts on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 01355, 01364. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in New Salem
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in New Salem
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.1%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (32.4%), vs 25.4% across Massachusetts. Heart disease is also above the state: 6.9%, vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. In all, New Salem runs above Massachusetts on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in New Salem, and more people treating it
36.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Massachusetts 30.9%), but 79.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around New Salem
Grades next door run from Shutesbury (A) to Orange (C−). New Salem is an A. Around town ↓
New Salem keeps up with checkups
It beats Massachusetts on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.7% vs 69.8%) and cholesterol checks (93% vs 89.7%). Checkups ↓
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 New Salem’s likely range; New Salem’s figures come from ZIP codes 01355, 01364, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind New Salem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Salem is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 96% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 75%.
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). New Salem’s median household income is $79,688; among the 10,772 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 New Salem adults…
New Salem runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of New Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
New Salem and the towns around it
New Salem’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Salem | A | 24.6% | 10.2% | 9.9% | ZIP codes |
| Petersham | B+ | 33.2% | 12% | 12.2% | ZIP 01366 |
| Pelham | A | 21.6% | 8% | 9.3% | ZIP codes |
| Belchertown | A | 24.2% | 9.1% | 10.9% | ZIP 01007 |
| Ware | C+ | 28.4% | 11.6% | 16.9% | ZIP 01082 |
| Shutesbury | A | 24.3% | 9.3% | 9.8% | ZIP codes |
| Orange | C− | 30.3% | 12.9% | 19.3% | ZIP 01364 |
| Athol | C | 35.1% | 12% | 16.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near New Salem
No hospital or community health center in New Salem 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 New Salem; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
17 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How New Salem adults are doing
About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.
3 in 10 New Salem 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.
9.1% of New Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of New Salem adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for New Salem
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, New Salem is better than Massachusetts on 10 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside New Salem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | New Salem | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.4%11.5–17.7 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.5%10.4–14.8 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%11.8–16.3 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.6%19.2–30.7 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.2%8.6–12.1 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.4%32.3–40.7 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%35–43.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%28.6–36.3 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.1–12.9 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.1%10.9–13.5 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%5.9–8.1 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.6%5.1–8.4 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.8–3.9 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.4%5.1–8.1 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.9%7.2–13.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.4%14.3–23.1 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.9–18.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.2%28–38.9 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3%2.2–4.1 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 84%80.9–86.6 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.7%70.7–76.6 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 93%91.6–94.1 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%75.7–82.2 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 76.9%72.6–80.8 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.5%77.6–88.3 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.4–27.7 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.8%26.3–35.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.8%16.5–24 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.3%5.3–10.1 | 12.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.8%5.3–8.8 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%3.9–6.1 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4.1–6.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.1%6.5–12.5 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.3%22–31.4 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%9.7–15.1 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%9.5–14 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.2–8.3 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%2.9–4.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.2–7.8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.5–3.7 | 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 New Salem
Is New Salem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Salem is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in New Salem?
CDC estimates 24.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.2% and 30.7%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to New Salem?
Athol Memorial Hospital in Athol, 10.7 miles in a straight line from New Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in New Salem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.2–4.1%), 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 New Salem 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 New Salem.
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.