Photo: AcrossTheAtlantic · CC BY-SA 4.0Within New Hampshire, Durham is healthier than 47% of graded towns
Durham differs from New Hampshire on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 03824. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Durham
Mental distress runs high in Durham
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.5%), vs 15.3% across New Hampshire. Depression is above the state too: 31.1%, vs 22.7% across New Hampshire. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Durham
1 in 9 adults lack reliable transportation (10.7%), about twice the New Hampshire rate. Food insecurity (15.1% vs 9.5%) and utility shut-off threats (7.2% vs 5.4%) are higher too. 10.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 6.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
New Hampshire sets a high bar
Durham is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, but only 47% of the 126 New Hampshire towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Durham’s lead shrinks
Durham is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, but 65% of the 5,161 towns with similar household incomes ($93K–$155K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Diabetes and heart disease are less common in Durham
Durham runs below New Hampshire on eight chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (4.4% vs 9.4%), heart disease (2.9% vs 6%) and stroke (1.5% vs 3.1%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (New Hampshire 20%). Conditions ↓
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 Durham’s likely range; Durham’s figures come from ZIP code 03824, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Durham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #67 of 126 in New Hampshire. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Durham’s median household income is $124,056; among the 5,161 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($93K–$155K), it’s healthier than 65%, about where its income would put it.
How Durham adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Durham runs above New Hampshire.
2 in 5 Durham 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.
10.5% of Durham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.5% across New Hampshire.
Out of every 100 Durham adults…
Durham runs below NH on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Durham residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across New Hampshire. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Durham
No hospital or community health center in Durham 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 Durham; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Hampshire
Share of adults, with the New Hampshire figure marked.
76 miles of trails across 39 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Durham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Hampshire.
Durham and the towns around it
Durham’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | A | 28.1% | 4.4% | 7.8% | ZIP 03824 |
| Newington | — | — | — | — | |
| Madbury | A | 31.5% | 8.3% | 9% | ZIP 03823 |
| Lee | A | 31.8% | 8.2% | 9% | ZIP 03861 |
| Newmarket | A | 31.2% | 7.8% | 9.4% | ZIP 03857 |
| Durham | — | — | — | — |
Newington: fewer than 1,000 residents. Durham: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Durham adults live with a disability (New Hampshire 26.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Durham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Durham is better than New Hampshire on 11 and worse on 11; on the rest, the New Hampshire figure falls inside Durham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Durham | NH | U.S. | vs NH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.1%11.2–15 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 11.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.5%20.8–26.1 | 15.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.1%23.8–32.7 | 31.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 4.4%3.8–5 | 9.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 19.7%17.6–22 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 24.3%22–26.7 | 35.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 14.7%13.2–16.2 | 27.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.4–13.2 | 10.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.9%4.4–5.3 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.5%1.4–1.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8%6.5–9.6 | 8.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.8%6.5–9.2 | 10.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.2%14.4–20.2 | 20.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%15.7–21.3 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31%27–35.5 | 32.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.1–9 | 6.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.4%68.7–75.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.1%58.9–65.5 | 68.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 73.6%70.4–77 | 88.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 57%54.8–59.2 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.2%65.5–72.9 | 69.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%74.6–84.5 | 78.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.1%27.6–34.7 | 22.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 41.4%37.2–45.3 | 30.6% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.4%20.3–26.7 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.1%12.4–18 | 9.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.6%8.9–12.5 | 8.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.1–8.5 | 5.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.1–12.3 | 5.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.5%8.3–12.9 | 6.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.8%24.3–31.3 | 26.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 5.9%5.1–6.8 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%15.7–20.6 | 12% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 7.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.5–4.4 | 3.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.5–10 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.9%1.7–2.2 | 2.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Durham
Is Durham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #67 of 126 in New Hampshire. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 65%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Durham?
CDC estimates 28.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.8% and 32.7%, against 31.8% across New Hampshire and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Durham?
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, 6.7 miles in a straight line from Durham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Durham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–9%), 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 Durham more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Durham.
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.