Photo: Croosadabilia croosadabilia · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Richmond is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Richmond differs from Massachusetts on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 01254, 01201. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Richmond
Heart disease, cancer and COPD run high in Richmond
1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. 1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.3%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. COPD is also above the state: 7.9%, vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. In all, Richmond runs above Massachusetts on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 38% of residents are 65 or older (Massachusetts 18%), and heart disease, cancer and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Richmond’s lead shrinks
Richmond is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, but 56% of the 7,716 towns with similar household incomes ($80K–$133K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Richmond, and more people treating it
37.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Massachusetts 30.9%), but 81.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.4% statewide. 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 Richmond’s likely range; Richmond’s figures come from ZIP codes 01254, 01201, 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 Richmond’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Richmond is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 81% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 54%.
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). Richmond’s median household income is $106,250; among the 7,716 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($80K–$133K), it’s healthier than 56%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Richmond adults…
Richmond runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Richmond is an older town: 38% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Massachusetts. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Richmond as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Richmond adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Care in and near Richmond
No hospital or community health center in Richmond 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 Richmond; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
How Richmond adults are doing
About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.
3 in 10 Richmond 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.
12.7% of Richmond adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Richmond and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Richmond adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Richmond
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Richmond is better than Massachusetts on 6 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Richmond’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Richmond | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%14.5–20.9 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12–16.2 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.3–17.5 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.7%25.1–36.5 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%9.8–13.6 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.3%33.4–41.2 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.4%35.3–43.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.8%30.2–37.3 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.3%11.1–13.7 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.3–9.8 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.9%6.4–9.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.4–4.6 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.4%7.6–11.6 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.9%9.3–14.8 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.5%17.6–26.2 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%12.1–16.9 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.8%29.9–40.1 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.1%3.1–5.3 | 5.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.5%80.7–85.9 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.4%68.2–74.5 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92%90.6–93.2 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.1%78–83.7 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.5%69.3–77.5 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%71.4–84.3 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.6–27.5 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.4%25.9–35.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%18–25.3 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.1%7.8–12.7 | 12.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.5%6.8–10.3 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%4.9–7.2 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.3–7.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.7%9.8–15.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.6%26.2–35.3 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%11.8–17.2 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.9%11–15 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.2–9.6 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.7–5.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%6.4–9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3–4.3 | 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 Richmond
Is Richmond a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Richmond is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 56%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Richmond?
CDC estimates 30.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.1% and 36.5%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Richmond?
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, 7.7 miles in a straight line from Richmond’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Richmond have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.1–5.3%), 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 Richmond 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 Richmond.
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.