Photo: Judith Mosso, Ware, MA · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Massachusetts, Ware is healthier than 7% of graded towns
Ware trails Massachusetts on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 01082. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ware
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Ware
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. 1 in 26 adults have had a stroke (3.9%), vs 3% across Massachusetts. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.5%, vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. In all, Ware runs above Massachusetts on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Ware
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.9%), vs 11.3% across Massachusetts. Habits ↓
Depression is more common in Ware
3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression (28.7%), vs 23.8% across Massachusetts. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.9%, vs 16.2% across Massachusetts. Mind & connection ↓
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 Ware’s likely range; Ware’s figures come from ZIP code 01082, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Ware’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ware is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #260 of 279 in Massachusetts. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 88% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 20%).
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). Ware’s median household income is $67,475; among the 10,264 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Ware adults…
Ware runs above MA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
23 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
How Ware adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Ware runs above Massachusetts.
4 in 10 Ware 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.
Care in and near Ware
No hospital or community health center in Ware 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 Ware; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ware 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.
21.7% of Ware adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Ware and the towns around it
Ware’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ware | C+ | 28.4% | 11.6% | 16.9% | ZIP 01082 |
| Belchertown | A | 24.2% | 9.1% | 10.9% | ZIP 01007 |
| New Salem | A | 24.6% | 10.2% | 9.9% | ZIP codes |
| Petersham | B+ | 33.2% | 12% | 12.2% | ZIP 01366 |
| Hardwick | B | 31.4% | 11.6% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Ware | — | — | — | — | |
| Palmer Town | B− | 33% | 10.7% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| West Brookfield | B− | 33.7% | 12.1% | 13.7% | ZIP 01585 |
Ware: 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 Ware adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ware
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ware is better than Massachusetts on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Ware’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ware | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.8%18.2–23.5 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.2–17.8 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.9–21 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.4%23.4–33.4 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%10.1–13.1 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34%30.5–37.3 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.7%31.2–38.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.9%26.9–32.8 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.5–14.3 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.7–10.4 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%8–10.3 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.5%12.1–17.3 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14.5–19.5 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%21–28.4 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%13.2–18.1 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.3%29.6–39.6 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.2%5.2–7.3 | 5.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%78.2–83.7 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.9%59.7–66.1 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.7–89.7 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.5–79.2 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.1%63.8–72.3 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.6%74.8–85.9 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.7%25.2–32.1 | 23.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.9%31.7–40.1 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%21.2–27.6 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.3%13.8–18.8 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.3–15 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.7%18.8–24.8 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.8%28.9–36.6 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%13.3–17.3 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%15.3–19.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.8–8.5 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5–6.2 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%8.8–11.2 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5 | 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 Ware
Is Ware a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ware is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #260 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 Ware?
CDC estimates 28.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 33.4%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ware?
Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer, 8.0 miles in a straight line from Ware’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ware have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–7.3%), 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 Ware 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 Ware.
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.