Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Northampton is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Northampton differs from Massachusetts on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Northampton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Northampton
Massachusetts sets a high bar
Northampton is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, but only 63% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Northampton is an active town
Only 17.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 21.7% across Massachusetts. The town has 118 miles of trails across 40 parks and preserves. 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 Northampton’s likely range.
What’s behind Northampton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northampton is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #104 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 98% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 63%.
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). Northampton’s median household income is $80,288; among the 10,740 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
Most Massachusetts towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Northampton is healthier than 63% of graded towns, against 91% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
118 miles of trails across 40 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Northampton adults…
Northampton runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Northampton
2 hospitals in Northampton, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Northampton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Northampton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
How Northampton adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Northampton runs above Massachusetts.
1 in 3 Northampton 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.
11.5% of Northampton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Northampton and the towns around it
Northampton’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton | A | 23.1% | 8.9% | 9.5% | CDC place |
| Hadley | A+ | 20.8% | 8.3% | 7.8% | ZIP 01035 |
| Easthampton | — | — | — | — | |
| Hatfield | A | 23.7% | 9.9% | 10.6% | ZIP codes |
Easthampton: no CDC estimate of its own. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Northampton adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Northampton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Northampton is better than Massachusetts on 10 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Northampton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Northampton | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.2%12.4–16.2 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.9%10.5–13.4 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.5–18.2 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.1%18.7–27.9 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.9%7.7–10.1 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 28.6%25.4–31.8 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.1%28.6–35.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.7%23–28.5 | 25.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.3%11–13.8 | 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 | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%5.1–6.5 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.2%6.7–10 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.5%8.2–11.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.4%14.7–20.5 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%13–18.1 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.5%25.9–35.6 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.1%3.4–4.7 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.3%79.4–84.8 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.8%71–76.7 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.2%88.9–91.4 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.6–79.2 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.2%70.1–78.1 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.9%77.3–87.8 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.9–30.7 | 23.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.9%30.7–39.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.1%18.3–24.1 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.8%8.4–11.5 | 12.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.8%7.6–10.2 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.2–6.9 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6.1–7.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.5%9.8–13.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.8%22.5–29.2 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.7%9.3–12.2 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.2%11.7–14.9 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.1%6.3–8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 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 Northampton
Is Northampton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northampton is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #104 of 279 in Massachusetts. 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 Northampton?
CDC estimates 23.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.7% and 27.9%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Northampton?
The Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc in Northampton, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Northampton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Northampton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.4–4.7%), 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 Northampton 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 Northampton.
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.