On CDC estimates, Syracuse is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Syracuse differs from Nebraska on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Syracuse. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Syracuse
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Syracuse
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.2%), vs 8.3% across Nebraska. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.9%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. Arthritis is also above the state: 29.8%, vs 24% across Nebraska. In all, Syracuse runs above Nebraska on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Nebraska 17%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Syracuse, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Nebraska 32.6%), but 81.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.5% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer Syracuse adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Nebraska. 1 in 13 adults worry about keeping their housing, vs 1 in 11 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 Nebraska figure falls outside Syracuse’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Syracuse’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Syracuse is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 93% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). Syracuse’s median household income is $72,404; among the 10,707 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$91K), it’s healthier than 73%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Syracuse adults…
Syracuse runs above NE on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Syracuse is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nebraska. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Syracuse as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Syracuse adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.2% of Syracuse adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Care in and near Syracuse
1 hospital in Syracuse, 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 Syracuse; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
2.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Syracuse adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Syracuse 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.
Syracuse and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | B | 39.8% | 12.2% | 12.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Syracuse adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Syracuse
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Syracuse is better than Nebraska on 6 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Syracuse’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Syracuse | NE | U.S. | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17%14.1–20.4 | 16.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%10.9–14.9 | 11.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.5–15.1 | 14.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.8%33.8–45.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.4–14.1 | 10.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%34.9–42.2 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33.8–41.2 | 33% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 29.8%26.6–32.9 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.2–10.4 | 9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.2%10–12.4 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%6.8–8.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.3%5.9–8.8 | 6.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.3–4.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.5–15.7 | 12.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%10.1–15.9 | 13.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.6%22.6–32.5 | 24.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15.4–21 | 19.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.4%23.2–34.2 | 31.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%5.7–9.8 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.8–82.1 | 75.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.6%60.9–68.1 | 64.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.4–88.6 | 83.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.1%78.5–83.4 | 77.5% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.8%59.6–69.8 | 62.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69.3–83.1 | 75% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.8%15.1–20.4 | 18.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29%24.6–33.8 | 29.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.2%16.8–23.8 | 20.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.9%7.6–12.5 | 12.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.5%6–9.2 | 9.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.3–6.2 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.5%4.6–6.6 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.2%5.4–9.3 | 8.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31%26.5–35.4 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%12.4–17.8 | 12% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%9.7–13.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.7–5.3 | 4.4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6–8.7 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.8–4 | 3.2% | 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 Nebraska figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Syracuse
Is Syracuse a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Syracuse is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Syracuse?
CDC estimates 39.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.8% and 45.3%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Syracuse?
CHI Health St. Mary's in Nebraska City, 15.8 miles in a straight line from Syracuse’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Syracuse have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–9.8%), against 9.9% across Nebraska.
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 Syracuse more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Syracuse.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Nebraska 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.