Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Springfield as a whole is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Springfield differs from Massachusetts on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Springfield. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Springfield
More Springfield adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (37.5%), vs 21.7% across Massachusetts. There are 20 miles of trails across 95 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Springfield
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (32.2%), more than twice the Massachusetts rate. Utility shut-off threats (17.6% vs 7%) and housing insecurity (26.1% vs 11.1%) are higher too. 37.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Springfield has no health insurance
13.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.2% across Massachusetts. 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 Springfield’s likely range.
What’s behind Springfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Springfield is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 24% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Springfield’s median household income is $52,656; among the 6,679 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$66K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Springfield compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 154,702 residents, Springfield is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
20 miles of trails across 95 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
37.9% of Springfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Keeping up with care
Share of Springfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Out of every 100 Springfield adults…
Springfield runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Springfield
2 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Springfield, 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 Springfield; ≈ 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).
How Springfield adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Springfield runs above Massachusetts.
2 in 5 Springfield 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.
Springfield and the towns around it
Springfield’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | D | 39.6% | 14.8% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Ludlow | B− | 33% | 11% | 14.9% | ZIP 01056 |
| Chicopee | C | 34.7% | 11.9% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| West Springfield Town | C+ | 33.3% | 11.2% | 14.8% | CDC place |
| Agawam Town | B+ | 31.5% | 10.4% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| East Longmeadow | A | 28.8% | 9.5% | 10.1% | ZIP 01028 |
| Longmeadow | — | — | — | — | |
| Longmeadow | A | 27.5% | 9.2% | 8.4% | ZIP 01106 |
Longmeadow: 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 Springfield adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Springfield
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Springfield is better than Massachusetts on 1 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Springfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Springfield | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.2%27.5–32.8 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.4–20.1 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%19–23.2 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.6%34.7–44.5 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.8%13.2–16.5 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.6%32.6–38.5 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.7%30.6–36.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%25–29.8 | 25.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.3%11.9–14.8 | 11.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.4–7.7 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.9%17.6–24.5 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.5%15.5–19.6 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.5%33.7–41.3 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.8–17.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.7%37.2–46.3 | 33.6% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.7%12.1–15.5 | 5.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%76.4–81.9 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%53–59.4 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.6%82.9–86.3 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.6%71.9–77 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%55.5–64 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.3%73.5–84.2 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.3%23.3–29.4 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.4%36.5–44.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.1%29.7–36.6 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 32.2%29.5–35 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.1%23.7–28.7 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.6%15.8–19.6 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.1%15.5–18.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 37.9%35.1–40.6 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.7%37–44.2 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.6%17.7–21.5 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.3%19.3–23.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.3%8.6–9.9 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.7%11.5–13.8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.3%5.8–6.8 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Springfield
Is Springfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Springfield is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Springfield?
CDC estimates 39.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.7% and 44.5%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Springfield?
Mercy Medical Ctr in Springfield, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Springfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Springfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.1–15.5%), 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 Springfield more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Springfield.
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.