Photo: Richard B. Johnson · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Massachusetts, North Brookfield is healthier than 11% of graded towns
North Brookfield differs from Massachusetts on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 01535. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Brookfield
Massachusetts sets a high bar
North Brookfield is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns, but only 11% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in North Brookfield
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (27.5%), vs 23.8% across Massachusetts. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.3%, vs 16.2% across Massachusetts. Mind & connection ↓
COPD, obesity and arthritis run high in North Brookfield
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.5%), vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. 1 in 3 adults have obesity (33.9%), vs 27.7% across Massachusetts. Arthritis is also above the state: 29.9%, vs 25.4% across Massachusetts. In all, North Brookfield runs above Massachusetts on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in North Brookfield
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.6%), 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 North Brookfield’s likely range; North Brookfield’s figures come from ZIP code 01535, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind North Brookfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Brookfield is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns, #249 of 279 in Massachusetts. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 71% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 28%).
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). North Brookfield’s median household income is $79,285; among the 10,788 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$99K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
How North Brookfield adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, North Brookfield runs above Massachusetts.
1 in 3 North Brookfield 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.
Out of every 100 North Brookfield adults…
North Brookfield runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
4.5 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Care in and near North Brookfield
No hospital or community health center in North Brookfield 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 North Brookfield; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of North Brookfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.4% of North Brookfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
North Brookfield and the towns around it
North Brookfield’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Brookfield | B | 33.9% | 10.7% | 14.6% | ZIP 01535 |
| Brookfield | B− | 34.7% | 11.8% | 15.2% | ZIP 01506 |
| West Brookfield | B− | 33.7% | 12.1% | 13.7% | ZIP 01585 |
| East Brookfield | B+ | 32.1% | 9.9% | 12.7% | ZIP 01515 |
| East Brookfield | — | — | — | — | |
| New Braintree | B | 33.1% | 10.8% | 13.7% | ZIP 01531 |
East Brookfield: 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 North Brookfield adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Brookfield
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Brookfield is better than Massachusetts on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside North Brookfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Brookfield | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.1%15.8–20.6 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13–16.5 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.5–20.3 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.9%29.7–38.5 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.4–12.2 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%32.4–38.3 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%33.8–39.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.9%27.4–32.5 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.4–14.1 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.3 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.8 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.8%7.1–10.6 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.6%12.3–17 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%21.3–28.2 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15.9–20.7 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%30–37.5 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.5%3.6–5.6 | 5.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.4%79–83.7 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.5%66.6–72 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.6%88–91 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.3%73.5–78.9 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.7%65.9–73 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 85%80.5–88.6 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.5%24.6–30.4 | 23.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34%30.8–37.5 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%21.1–27 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.3%10.3–14.8 | 12.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.4%8.8–12.2 | 11.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.3%6.2–8.4 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.4%6.4–8.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.4%12.7–18.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.1%26.8–33.6 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%11.6–15.3 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.3%13.6–17.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.5 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.1–4 | 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 North Brookfield
Is North Brookfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Brookfield is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #249 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Brookfield?
CDC estimates 33.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 38.5%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Brookfield?
Umass Memorial Health - Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, 13.2 miles in a straight line from North Brookfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Brookfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.6–5.6%), 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 North Brookfield more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in North Brookfield.
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.