Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Adams is healthier than 81%
Adams differs from New York on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Adams. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Adams
Adams is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Adams is healthier than 59%. Against the 9,811 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 81%. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Adams
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (21.5%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 17.3%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Adams
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.5%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
Fewer Adams adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 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 New York figure falls outside Adams’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Adams’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Adams is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 78% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 38%).
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). Adams’ median household income is $64,432; among the 9,811 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 81%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Adams adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Adams runs above New York.
1 in 3 Adams 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.3% of Adams adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Out of every 100 Adams adults…
Adams runs below NY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Adams
No hospital or community health center in Adams 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 Adams; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Adams adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Adams and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | B | 37.7% | 10.2% | 14.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Adams adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Adams
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Adams is better than New York on 6 and worse on 9; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Adams’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Adams | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.8%14.4–19.6 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.9–15.3 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.4–19.7 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.7%32.7–43.2 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.2%8.9–11.8 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.8%28.7–35.3 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34%30.6–37.6 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 28.2%25.5–31.3 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.5–13.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8.1–9.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.4%6.3–8.6 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.8–14.2 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%12.1–17.2 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%21.4–29.2 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.7%16.9–22.8 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39%34.7–43.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.9%4.6–7.4 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77.6–83.2 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.3%63.3–69.2 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.7%85.8–89.4 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.6%72.8–78.5 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%65.4–73.2 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%69.9–81.7 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.6–24.7 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.3%26.9–36.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%19.1–26.3 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.7%10.2–15.4 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.4–13.6 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%5.8–8.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.3%6.1–8.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.3%9.9–15.1 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.4%24.9–32.3 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%11.1–15 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.6–15.5 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.3–6.9 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.9–5.1 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7.1–9.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.1–4.1 | 3.8% | 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 New York figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Adams
Is Adams a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Adams is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Adams?
CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.7% and 43.2%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Adams?
Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, 12.0 miles in a straight line from Adams’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Adams have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–7.4%), against 7.9% across New York.
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 Adams 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 Adams.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York 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.