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Charlestown NH 9-27-25Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY 4.0
≈ B−Health Grade
Health in Charlestown · CDC PLACES 2025

Within New Hampshire, Charlestown is healthier than 4% of graded towns

Charlestown trails New Hampshire on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 03603. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Charlestown

New Hampshire sets a high bar

Charlestown is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, but only 4% of the 126 New Hampshire towns we grade. Health Grade ↓

COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Charlestown

1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 6.2% across New Hampshire. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.2%), vs 3.1% across New Hampshire. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 6% across New Hampshire. In all, Charlestown runs above New Hampshire on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Making ends meet is harder in Charlestown

1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food (12.8%), vs 9.5% across New Hampshire. Utility shut-off threats (7.2% vs 5.4%) and no reliable transportation (7.3% vs 5.6%) are higher too. 10.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 6.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓

Dental care lags in Charlestown

60.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68.8% across New Hampshire. Among those 65 and older, 13.8% have lost all their teeth (New Hampshire 8.9%). Checkups ↓

Charlestown is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Charlestown is healthier than 51%. Against the 4,780 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 91%. Health Grade ↓

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 New Hampshire figure falls outside Charlestown’s likely range; Charlestown’s figures come from ZIP code 03603, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Charlestown’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charlestown is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, #121 of 126 in New Hampshire. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 57% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 43%).

BSelf-rated health18.7% · NH 14.5% · U.S. 19.4%
C+Physical distress14.6% · NH 11.7% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress16.8% · NH 15.3% · U.S. 15.9%
BObesity35.4% · NH 31.8% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes12.2% · NH 9.4% · U.S. 12%
B−Smoking14.9% smoke · NH 10.8% · U.S. 11.8%
C+Exercise26.4% · NH 20.7% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 51%
Less healthyHealthier
New Hampshire towns we grade (126)Healthier than 4%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $36K–$59K (4,780)Healthier than 91%

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). Charlestown’s median household income is $47,338; among the 4,780 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 91%, more than its income alone would suggest.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Charlestown could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 03603), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Charlestown adults…

Charlestown runs above NH on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Charlestown adults have COPD
New Hampshire: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7.7–10.3%
Better than NHWorseAbout the sameNew Hampshire
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Charlestown adults worry about having enough food
12.8% · NH 9.5%
Worse than NH
1 in 10
Charlestown adults worry about keeping their housing
10.1% · NH 8.1%
Worse than NH
1 in 14
Charlestown adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.2% · NH 5.4%
Worse than NH
1 in 14
Charlestown adults lack reliable transportation
7.3% · NH 5.6%
Worse than NH

10.4% of Charlestown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.5% across New Hampshire.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Charlestown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Hampshire.

77%Yearly checkupNH 78%
60%Dentist visitNH 69%
87%Cholesterol checkNH 88%
66%Colon screeningNH 70%
79%MammogramNH 79%
78%Taking BP medsNH 77%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Charlestown 8% · New Hampshire 1 in 15 (6.8%)
Getting care

Care in and near Charlestown

1 community health center in Charlestown, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERSpringfield HospitalSpringfield · 5.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyValley Regional Hospital★★★★★ · 10.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSpringfield Medical Care SystemsCharlestown · 1.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.7 mi
Springfield Medical Care Systems
6 sites · nearest in Charlestown
Sliding-scale feesIn Charlestown
Directions to nearest
5.9 mi
Springfield Hospital
Springfield · not rated
ERRural critical access
10.1 mi
Valley Regional Hospital
Claremont · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
16.7 mi
Mt Ascutney Hospital
Windsor · not rated
ERRural critical access
19.3 mi
Grace Cottage Hospital
Townshend · not rated
Rural critical access
32.4 mi
Healthfirst - Canaan
Canaan · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
! Primary careCharlestown is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Southern Sullivan · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careCharlestown is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Southern Sullivan · need score 16 of 25
✓ Mental healthCharlestown is not a shortage area

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 Charlestown; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with New Hampshire

Share of adults, with the New Hampshire figure marked.

Get no exercise 26.4%NH 20.7%
Sleep under 7 hours 35.3%NH 32.9%
Binge drink 14.7%NH 15.7%
Smoke cigarettes 14.9%NH 10.8%
0%10%20%30%40%
Charlestown, betterCharlestown, worseAbout the sameNew Hampshire
Mind & connection

How Charlestown adults are doing

About the same as New Hampshire on each measure.

3 in 10Charlestown adults feel lonely
29.6% · NH 30.6% · About the same as NH
1 in 4Charlestown adults lack social or emotional support
22.8% · NH 21.6% · About the same as NH
1 in 4Charlestown adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.1% · NH 22.7% · About the same as NH
1 in 6Charlestown adults are in frequent mental distress
16.8% · NH 15.3% · About the same as NH
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Charlestown adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Charlestown and the towns around it

Charlestown’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 graded towns around it.

Springfield: 32.1%Rockingham: 27.6%Unity: 34.9%Langdon: 32.4%Claremont: 35.4%Acworth: 32.9%Chester: 28.2%Weathersfield: 29.9%Walpole: 30.7%Bellows Falls: 28.8%Westminster: 25.5%North Westminster: 26.3%Grafton: 25.2%Newport: 34.2%Lempster: 33.8%Goshen: 32.9%Alstead: 32.4%Ascutney: 28.2%Cornish: 31.3%Charlestown: 35.4%CharlestownSpringfieldRockinghamUnityLangdonClaremontAcworthSpringfield Hospital · Springfield · 5.9 miHValley Regional Hospital · Claremont · 10.1 mi · 3★ MedicareHMt Ascutney Hospital · Windsor · 16.7 miHGrace Cottage Hospital · Townshend · 19.3 miHCharlestown Health Center · Charlestown · 1.7 mi+
Healthier than NHNear NHLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#19 of 20 towns on this map, healthiest first
Rockingham27.6%
Springfield32.1%
Langdon32.4%
Acworth32.9%
Unity34.9%
Charlestown35.4%
Claremont35.4%
NH31.8%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
CharlestownB−35.4%12.2%14.9%ZIP 03603
UnityB−34.9%11.5%14.8%ZIP codes
Langdon————
ClaremontC+35.4%11.4%16.1%CDC place
Acworth————

Langdon and Acworth: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

31.8%

of Charlestown adults live with a disability (New Hampshire 26.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs15.8%
Thinking or memory14.4%
Hearing8.9%
Errands alone8.7%
Vision5.2%
Dressing or bathing4.2%
New Hampshire

Every CDC estimate for Charlestown

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Charlestown is better than New Hampshire on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the New Hampshire figure falls inside Charlestown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…CharlestownNHU.S.vs NH
Overall health
Fair or poor health18.7%16–21.414.5%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)14.6%12.8–16.511.7%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.8%14.7–18.915.3%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity35.4%29.8–4131.8%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.2%10.6–149.4%12%Worse
High blood pressure37.7%34–41.233%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.4%34.6–42.235.2%37.1%About the same
Arthritis33.2%30–36.427.6%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.4%10–12.810.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10.4%9.4–11.59.8%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease7.8%7–8.86%6.4%Worse
COPD9.1%7.7–10.36.2%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.2%3.7–4.63.1%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)13.8%11.4–16.48.9%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes14.9%12.4–17.410.8%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work26.4%22.4–30.520.7%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking14.7%12.1–17.415.7%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours35.3%30.5–40.432.9%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8%6.5–106.8%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year76.5%72.7–79.877.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year60.3%56.8–63.868.8%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years87.2%85.2–8988.3%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)77.6%74.2–80.576.8%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)65.9%61.4–70.269.5%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.5%72.6–83.978.8%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression25.1%21.6–28.622.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely29.6%25.5–33.730.6%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.8%19.4–26.221.6%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.8%10.5–15.49.5%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing10.1%8.4–128.1%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off7.2%6.1–8.45.4%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation7.3%6.2–8.45.6%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)10.4%8.3–12.76.5%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability31.8%27.8–35.826.1%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs15.8%13.6–17.911.3%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.4%12.5–16.412%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty8.9%7.9–107.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty5.2%4.6–5.93.8%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone8.7%7.6–9.96.6%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.2%3.7–4.82.9%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 New Hampshire figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Charlestown

Is Charlestown a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charlestown is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #121 of 126 in New Hampshire. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 91%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Charlestown?

CDC estimates 35.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 41%, against 31.8% across New Hampshire and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Charlestown?

Springfield Hospital in Springfield, 5.9 miles in a straight line from Charlestown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Charlestown have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–10%), against 6.8% across New Hampshire.

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 Charlestown 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 Charlestown.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Hampshire 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.