Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Albany is healthier than 92%
Albany differs from New York on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Albany. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Albany
Albany is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Albany is healthier than 70%. Against the 9,399 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 92%. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Albany
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (21.4%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 17.6%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Albany
1 in 9 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (11.3%), vs 8.2% across New York. No reliable transportation (11.6% vs 8.6%) is higher too. 19.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Albany
Albany runs below New York on cancer (6% vs 7.7%), heart disease (5% vs 6.1%) and high cholesterol (31.6% vs 37.7%). Conditions ↓
Albany has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 1 community health center are inside Albany. 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 York figure falls outside Albany’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Albany’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Albany is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #372 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 82% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 40%).
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). Albany’s median household income is $61,986; among the 9,399 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 92%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Albany is healthier than 51% of graded towns, against 70% nationally.
At 101,698 residents, Albany is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
How Albany adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Albany runs above New York.
2 in 5 Albany 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.
19.6% of Albany adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Out of every 100 Albany adults…
Albany runs below NY on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Albany
3 hospitals and 1 community health center in Albany, 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 Albany; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
49 miles of trails across 67 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Albany adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Albany and the towns around it
Albany’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | B+ | 32.9% | 9.9% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Bethlehem | A+ | 28.3% | 8.6% | 9.2% | ZIP codes |
| Guilderland | A | 29% | 8.9% | 9.8% | ZIP codes |
| Colonie | A | 30.1% | 9.7% | 11.1% | ZIP codes |
| Roessleville | — | — | — | — | |
| Rensselaer | B | 32.9% | 10.7% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Westmere | — | — | — | — | |
| Menands | A | 29.9% | 9.2% | 10.8% | CDC place |
Roessleville and Westmere: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Albany adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Albany
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Albany is better than New York on 6 and worse on 11; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Albany’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Albany | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18%16.1–20 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%11–13.7 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.9–19.5 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.9%28.7–37.4 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.2%28.5–34 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%28.7–34.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.1%19–23.2 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.4–12.9 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.4–6.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.5–5.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.4%11.2–15.9 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.7%21.7–27.9 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18%15.4–20.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.3%35.8–45.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.7–8.7 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.1%75.1–80.9 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.2%56.1–62.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%83.1–86.4 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.7%71.2–75.9 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.1%64.1–72.2 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%74.1–84.9 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.4%18.8–24.3 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 39.4%35–44 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%24.1–30.8 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.6%18.4–23 | 17.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.1%15.2–19.1 | 14.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.3%10–12.7 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.6%10.4–12.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.6%17.7–21.6 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.5%25.6–31.7 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12%10.7–13.4 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%13.3–16.3 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.1 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%8.2–9.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.7–4.3 | 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 Albany
Is Albany a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Albany is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #372 of 755 in New York. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Albany?
CDC estimates 32.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.7% and 37.4%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Albany?
St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Albany’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Albany have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–8.7%), 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 Albany 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 Albany.
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.