Photo: TonyTheTiger · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Amherst as a whole is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
Amherst differs from New York on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 14221, 14228, 14051, 14226. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Amherst
Fewer Amherst 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 ↓
Cancer runs high in Amherst
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.1%), vs 7.7% across New York. Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Amherst
Grades next door run from Clarence (A) to Buffalo (C−). Amherst is an A. Around town ↓
Amherst is an active town
Only 20.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. The town has 48 miles of trails across 33 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Amherst’s likely range; Amherst’s figures come from ZIP codes 14221, 14228, 14051, 14226, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Amherst’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Amherst is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, #103 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 93% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 81%.
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). Amherst’s median household income is $93,483; among the 9,517 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($70K–$117K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
At 130,442 residents, Amherst is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.9% of Amherst adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
48 miles of trails across 33 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Amherst adults…
Amherst runs below NY on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Amherst and the towns around it
Amherst’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | A | 27.7% | 8.9% | 8.8% | ZIP codes |
| Pendleton | B | 38.7% | 10.4% | 13.3% | ZIP codes |
| Cheektowaga | B | 33.4% | 11.1% | 13.5% | ZIP codes |
| Cheektowaga | — | — | — | — | |
| Eggertsville | — | — | — | — | |
| Buffalo | C− | 38.4% | 13.4% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| North Tonawanda | B | 39% | 10.5% | 13.8% | CDC place |
| Tonawanda | A− | 31.9% | 10% | 12.3% | ZIP codes |
Cheektowaga and Eggertsville: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Amherst
No hospital or community health center in Amherst 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 Amherst; ≈ 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 Amherst adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Amherst adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Amherst does better than New York.
3 in 10 Amherst 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Amherst adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Amherst
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Amherst is better than New York on 17 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Amherst’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Amherst | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.4%11.7–15.2 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 12.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.6–15.8 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.7%23.9–31.5 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.9%7.7–10.1 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.4%26.7–32.2 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%32.9–39.1 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.4%23–27.8 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–9.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5–6.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.3%4.6–6 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.5%8.7–12.4 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.8%7.5–10.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.5%17.7–23.3 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%14.9–20.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%30.9–38 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.3%3.6–5.1 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.1%80.4–85.4 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70%67.4–72.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.3%87.8–90.6 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.3%74.6–79.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.1%68.6–75.3 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.6%76.9–85.6 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.7–21.7 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.8%26–33.5 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%18.7–24.3 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.6%8.2–11.3 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.5%7.3–9.8 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6%5.2–6.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.9%6.7–9.2 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.5%18.9–24.1 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.2–4 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.4–3 | 3.8% | 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 York figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Amherst
Is Amherst a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Amherst is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A for health, #103 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Amherst?
CDC estimates 27.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.9% and 31.5%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Amherst?
Kenmore Mercy Hospital in Kenmore, 6.5 miles in a straight line from Amherst’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Amherst have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.6–5.1%), 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 Amherst 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 Amherst.
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.