Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Dorchester residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Dorchester, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 03266. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dorchester
Out of every 100 Dorchester adults…
Dorchester runs above NH on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Dorchester is an older town: 40% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across New Hampshire. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Dorchester as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Dorchester
No hospital or community health center in Dorchester 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 Dorchester; ≈ 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 New Hampshire
Share of adults, with the New Hampshire figure marked.
111 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Dorchester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Hampshire.
How Dorchester adults are doing
About the same as New Hampshire on each measure.
3 in 10 Dorchester 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.
6.7% of Dorchester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.5% across New Hampshire.
Dorchester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groton | — | — | — | — | |
| Canaan | B+ | 28.8% | 10.4% | 14.3% | ZIP 03741 |
| Wentworth | — | — | — | — | |
| Lyme | A | 26.1% | 10.1% | 9.9% | ZIP 03768 |
| Rumney | A | 27.4% | 10.6% | 11.8% | ZIP 03266 |
| Orange | — | — | — | — |
Groton and Orange: fewer than 1,000 residents. Wentworth: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dorchester adults live with a disability (New Hampshire 26.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Dorchester
Why doesn’t Dorchester have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Dorchester.
What hospital is closest to Dorchester?
Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, 15.4 miles in a straight line from Dorchester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Dorchester?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Healthfirst - Canaan in Canaan, 7.6 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dorchester.
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. 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.