Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within New Hampshire, Manchester is healthier than 14% of graded towns
Manchester differs from New Hampshire on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Manchester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Manchester
New Hampshire sets a high bar
Manchester is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, but only 14% of the 126 New Hampshire towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Manchester scores healthier
All seven graded neighbors are ahead of Manchester’s B+, from Goffstown (A) to Bedford (A+). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Manchester
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (14.6%), vs 9.5% across New Hampshire. Utility shut-off threats (8.1% vs 5.4%) and housing insecurity (12% vs 8.1%) are higher too. 10.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 6.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Manchester adults lack emotional support
1 in 4 adults lack social or emotional support (25.6%), vs 21.6% across New Hampshire. Loneliness is above the state too: 35.1%, vs 30.6% across New Hampshire. Mind & connection ↓
Manchester has a top-rated hospital
Catholic Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. 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 New Hampshire figure falls outside Manchester’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Manchester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Manchester is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #109 of 126 in New Hampshire. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 87% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Manchester’s median household income is $81,007; among the 10,714 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$101K), it’s healthier than 75%, about where its income would put it.
At 116,818 residents, Manchester is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Manchester and the towns around it
Manchester’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | B+ | 35% | 9.4% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Bedford | A+ | 30.2% | 8.5% | 7.9% | ZIP 03110 |
| Hooksett | A | 32.8% | 8.6% | 10.4% | ZIP 03106 |
| Londonderry | A | 30.6% | 8.1% | 9.3% | ZIP 03053 |
| Auburn | A | 31% | 8.1% | 9.7% | ZIP 03032 |
| South Hooksett | — | — | — | — | |
| Merrimack | A | 32% | 8.3% | 9.2% | ZIP 03054 |
| Goffstown | A | 32.7% | 8.8% | 10.6% | ZIP codes |
South Hooksett: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. 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.
10.9% of Manchester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.5% across New Hampshire.
How Manchester adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Manchester runs above New Hampshire.
1 in 3 Manchester 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 Manchester
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Manchester, 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 Manchester; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Manchester adults…
Manchester runs below NH on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Hampshire
Share of adults, with the New Hampshire figure marked.
35 miles of trails across 44 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Manchester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Hampshire.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Manchester adults live with a disability (New Hampshire 26.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Manchester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Manchester is better than New Hampshire on 3 and worse on 15; on the rest, the New Hampshire figure falls inside Manchester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Manchester | NH | U.S. | vs NH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%15.9–19.2 | 14.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.5%11.3–13.7 | 11.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.7–19.1 | 15.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35%30.8–39.1 | 31.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.4–10.5 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.8%28.4–33.2 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.6%30.1–35.1 | 35.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.5%22.5–26.4 | 27.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.3 | 10.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.4 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5.1–6 | 6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.8–7 | 6.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.9%11.7–16.5 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%11.5–14.5 | 10.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.2%22.6–27.9 | 20.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%14.2–18.7 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%32.8–41.5 | 32.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 6.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.8%72.8–78.4 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.2%59–65.3 | 68.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.3–86.7 | 88.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%71.7–76.6 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.3%63.5–71.1 | 69.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%71.6–82.1 | 78.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%20.3–25.3 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%31.9–38.3 | 30.6% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.6%22.9–28.3 | 21.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.6%13–16.2 | 9.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.6–13.5 | 8.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%7.1–9.1 | 5.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%7.2–8.9 | 5.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.9%9.4–12.3 | 6.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.6%26.1–31.2 | 26.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10.8–13.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.4–16.3 | 12% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.3 | 7.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.4–5.1 | 3.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.7 | 2.9% | 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 Manchester
Is Manchester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Manchester is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #109 of 126 in New Hampshire. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 75%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Manchester?
CDC estimates 35% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 39.1%, against 31.8% across New Hampshire and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Manchester?
Elliot Hospital in Manchester, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Manchester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Manchester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–11.2%), 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 Manchester 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 Manchester.
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.