Photo: Mitchazenia · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Alden is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns
Alden differs from New York on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alden
Cancer and depression run high in Alden
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.6%), vs 7.7% across New York. 1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (21.5%), vs 17.5% across New York. In all, Alden runs above New York on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Alden adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Alden adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (29.9% vs 34.2%) and lack of emotional support (21.9% vs 26.4%) both run below New York. Mind & connection ↓
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 Alden’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Alden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alden is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, #279 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 85% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 69%.
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). Alden’s median household income is $70,541; among the 10,548 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 94%, about where its income would put it.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Alden is healthier than 63% of graded towns, against 80% nationally.
Out of every 100 Alden adults…
Alden runs below NY on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.7% of Alden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
How Alden adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Alden runs above New York.
3 in 10 Alden 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 Alden
No hospital or community health center in Alden 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 Alden; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Alden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Alden and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alden | A− | 31.1% | 9.6% | 12.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alden adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alden
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alden is better than New York on 10 and worse on 3; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Alden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alden | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.3%12.7–18.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%10.9–14.8 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%13.8–18.1 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.1%26.7–35.4 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.6%8.2–11.2 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%28.5–34.9 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%34.3–40.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.5%25.6–31.4 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.5–7.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.7%5.4–8.1 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.1%4.9–7.3 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%9.8–14.9 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.8%19–26.9 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.9%16.3–21.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%32.6–40 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.7%3.5–6.2 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.6%80–85 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.6%63.7–69.3 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.7%87.9–91.3 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.2–81.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.7%66–73.2 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%73.4–83.3 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.6–24.4 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 29.9%26–33.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.8–25.4 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.9%7.6–12.4 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.3%7.4–11.2 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%4.7–6.8 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6%4.9–7.1 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.7%6.6–11.1 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.9%20.4–27.6 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%9.8–14.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.3%9.5–13.3 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.3–7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.3–4.5 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6–8.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.7–3.8 | 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 Alden
Is Alden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alden is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #279 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alden?
CDC estimates 31.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.7% and 35.4%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alden?
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo in Buffalo, 16.5 miles in a straight line from Alden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Alden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.5–6.2%), 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 Alden more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alden.
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.