Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0Where West Dennis residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for West Dennis, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Dennis. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Dennis
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in West Dennis
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (15%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. 2 in 5 adults have arthritis (38.7%), vs 25.4% across Massachusetts. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. In all, West Dennis runs above Massachusetts on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 43% of residents are 65 or older (Massachusetts 18%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in West Dennis, and more people treating it
41.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Massachusetts 30.9%), but 85% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
West Dennis keeps up with checkups
It beats Massachusetts on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (87% vs 80.9%) and dentist visits (76% vs 69.8%). 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 West Dennis’ likely range.
Out of every 100 West Dennis adults…
West Dennis runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
West Dennis is an older town: 43% 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 West Dennis as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Dennis adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Care in and near West Dennis
No hospital or community health center in West Dennis 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 Dennis; ≈ 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.
5.6 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves
How West Dennis adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, West Dennis does better than Massachusetts.
3 in 10 West Dennis 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.
8.6% of West Dennis adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
West Dennis 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Port | — | — | — | — | |
| Dennis | A− | 26.2% | 11.3% | 10.4% | ZIP codes |
| Yarmouth | A− | 26.5% | 10.8% | 11.1% | ZIP codes |
| South Yarmouth | — | — | — | — | |
| South Dennis | — | — | — | — |
Dennis Port, South Yarmouth and South Dennis: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Dennis adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in West Dennis
Why doesn’t West Dennis have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for West Dennis.
What hospital is closest to West Dennis?
Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, 5.6 miles in a straight line from West Dennis’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near West Dennis?
7 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Ellen Jones Community Dental Clinic in South Dennis, 2.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Dennis.
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. 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.