Mount Vernon Cemetery · Photo: Pvmoutside · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Massachusetts, West Boylston is healthier than 32% of graded towns
West Boylston differs from Massachusetts on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 01583, 01606. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Boylston
Massachusetts sets a high bar
West Boylston is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, but only 32% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Cancer runs high in West Boylston
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Massachusetts 18%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer West Boylston adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing and getting around all run below Massachusetts. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults 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 West Boylston’s likely range; West Boylston’s figures come from ZIP codes 01583, 01606, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind West Boylston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Boylston is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, #190 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 83% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 68%.
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). West Boylston’s median household income is $104,551; among the 7,904 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$131K), it’s healthier than 70%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 West Boylston adults…
West Boylston runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
West Boylston is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Massachusetts. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in West Boylston as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.4% of West Boylston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Care in and near West Boylston
No hospital or community health center in West Boylston 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 West Boylston; ≈ 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 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of West Boylston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
How West Boylston adults are doing
About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.
1 in 3 West Boylston 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.
West Boylston and the towns around it
West Boylston’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Boylston | A− | 31.2% | 9.8% | 11.2% | ZIP codes |
| Sterling | A | 30.3% | 9.4% | 9.7% | ZIP 01564 |
| Boylston | A | 30.5% | 9.6% | 9.8% | ZIP 01505 |
| Shrewsbury | A+ | 26.6% | 8.8% | 8.4% | ZIP 01545 |
| Worcester | C+ | 35.3% | 11.4% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Holden | A | 29.8% | 8.6% | 9.3% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Boylston adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Boylston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Boylston is better than Massachusetts on 4 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside West Boylston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Boylston | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.9%13.5–18.5 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.2–14.7 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.2–17.9 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.2%27.1–35.5 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.4–11.2 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34%31.1–37 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.4%33.4–39.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.6%26.1–31.1 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.2–11 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.5–7.2 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.3%5.1–7.5 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.7–3.6 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.8%7.1–10.6 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%9.3–13.5 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.8%18.4–25.4 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%16–20.8 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6%28.8–36.1 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.7%3.7–5.8 | 5.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%79.5–84.2 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.5%68.7–73.9 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.6%89.1–91.9 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.8–79.1 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%66.8–73.9 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 84%79.3–87.7 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%22.2–27.7 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%29.8–36.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.2%20.5–26.2 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.1%8.3–12.1 | 12.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%7.5–10.5 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%5.1–7 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.4%9.3–13.8 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.7%24.2–31.2 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10–14 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.2%11.4–15.1 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.7–7.4 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.1–4.2 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%5.8–8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.4 | 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 West Boylston
Is West Boylston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Boylston is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #190 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 70%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Boylston?
CDC estimates 31.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.1% and 35.5%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Boylston?
Umass Memorial Medical Center/University Campus in Worcester, 6.5 miles in a straight line from West Boylston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Boylston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.7–5.8%), 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 West Boylston more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Boylston.
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.