Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Massachusetts, Taunton is healthier than 5% of graded towns
Taunton trails Massachusetts on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Taunton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Taunton
Every town around Taunton scores healthier
All seven graded neighbors are ahead of Taunton’s C+, from Middleborough (B+) to Berkley (A−). Around town ↓
Smoking is more common in Taunton
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.9%), vs 11.3% across Massachusetts. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Taunton
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17.6%), vs 12.4% across Massachusetts. Utility shut-off threats (10.1% vs 7%) and housing insecurity (15.4% vs 11.1%) are higher too. 21.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Taunton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind Taunton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Taunton is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns, #266 of 279 in Massachusetts. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 68% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Taunton’s median household income is $79,283; among the 10,788 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$99K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Taunton and the towns around it
Taunton’s Health Grade ranks 8th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taunton | C+ | 33.6% | 11.1% | 17.9% | CDC place |
| Raynham | B+ | 30.3% | 10.1% | 13.7% | ZIP 02767 |
| Dighton | A− | 29.4% | 8.4% | 12.5% | ZIP codes |
| Berkley | A− | 29.1% | 8.3% | 12.4% | ZIP 02779 |
| Middleborough | B+ | 29.8% | 10.3% | 13.4% | ZIP 02346 |
| Lakeville | A− | 28.8% | 9.5% | 12.1% | ZIP 02347 |
| North Lakeville | — | — | — | — | |
| Norton | A− | 28% | 8.2% | 11.7% | ZIP 02766 |
North Lakeville: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
72 miles of trails across 18 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.
21.6% of Taunton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Out of every 100 Taunton adults…
Taunton runs above MA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Taunton
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Taunton, 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 Taunton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Taunton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
How Taunton adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Taunton runs above Massachusetts.
1 in 3 Taunton 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Taunton adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Taunton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Taunton is better than Massachusetts on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Taunton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Taunton | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.6–24.1 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%14.1–17.3 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%18.2–22.1 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%29.1–38.1 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.1%9.8–12.5 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.1%31.2–37 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%33.3–39.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%26–31 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.4%12.1–14.9 | 11.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.3 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.3–7.6 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–3.9 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%13.2–18.5 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.9%15.8–20.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.3%23.1–29.6 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%14.7–19.4 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.8%32.8–40.8 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 5.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%79.1–83.9 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.8%60.8–66.6 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%87–89.7 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.7%71.8–77.3 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%61.7–69 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.5%76.4–85.8 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%22.1–27.7 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.8%31.4–38.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%23.4–29.4 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.6%15.7–19.8 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.4%13.7–17.3 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.1%8.9–11.3 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.9–11.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.6%19.4–24 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.9%29.7–36.1 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%13.5–16.8 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.7–19.1 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.3–7.8 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%5–5.9 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%4–4.7 | 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 Taunton
Is Taunton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Taunton is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #266 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Taunton?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 38.1%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Taunton?
Brown University Health Morton Hospital in Taunton, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Taunton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Taunton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.4–7.3%), 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 Taunton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Taunton.
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.