Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Massachusetts, Worcester is healthier than 6% of graded towns
Worcester differs from Massachusetts on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Worcester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Worcester
Every town around Worcester scores healthier
All five graded neighbors are ahead of Worcester’s C+, from Millbury (A−) to Shrewsbury (A+). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Worcester
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (22.7%), vs 12.4% across Massachusetts. Utility shut-off threats (12.4% vs 7%) and no reliable transportation (12.8% vs 7.6%) are higher too. 26.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Worcester
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (19.9%), vs 16.2% across Massachusetts. Lack of emotional support is above the state too: 27.6%, vs 23.4% across Massachusetts. Mind & connection ↓
Worcester has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Worcester. Getting care ↓
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 Worcester’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind Worcester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Worcester is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #263 of 279 in Massachusetts. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 61% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Worcester’s median household income is $70,102; among the 10,508 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 44%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Worcester compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 213,862 residents, Worcester is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Worcester and the towns around it
Worcester’s Health Grade ranks 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | C+ | 35.3% | 11.4% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Auburn | A− | 31.1% | 9.7% | 11.3% | ZIP 01501 |
| Shrewsbury | A+ | 26.6% | 8.8% | 8.4% | ZIP 01545 |
| Grafton | A | 29.9% | 8.7% | 10.2% | ZIP codes |
| West Boylston | A− | 31.2% | 9.8% | 11.2% | ZIP codes |
| Millbury | A− | 31.7% | 9.8% | 12.1% | ZIP 01527 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.3% of Worcester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
How Worcester adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Worcester runs above Massachusetts.
2 in 5 Worcester 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 Worcester
3 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Worcester, 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 Worcester; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Worcester adults…
Worcester runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
71 miles of trails across 75 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Worcester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Worcester adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Worcester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Worcester is better than Massachusetts on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Worcester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Worcester | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.2%20.2–24.3 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.4–16.3 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%18.1–21.9 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.3%31.1–39.6 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.4%10.1–12.7 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%29.8–35.1 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.7%30–35.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24%22–26.2 | 25.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.8%11.5–14.2 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.9–7 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.5 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14.3–19.9 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%12.8–16.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29%26–32.1 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%15–19.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4%33.4–41.2 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 5.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%77.1–82.2 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.7%58.7–64.4 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.9–87 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72%69.4–74.4 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64%60.1–67.4 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83%78.1–86.8 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.3%23.6–29.2 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.9%34.6–41.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.6%24.9–30.4 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.7%20.7–25 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.7%15.9–19.6 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%11.1–13.8 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.8%11.6–14.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.3%24.1–28.6 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%29.7–35.6 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.7%12.3–15.1 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%16.7–20.1 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.8–6.7 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%9–10.9 | 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 Worcester
Is Worcester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Worcester is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #263 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Worcester?
CDC estimates 35.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 39.6%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Worcester?
St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Worcester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Worcester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–9.9%), 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 Worcester 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 Worcester.
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.