Photo: Vitsuha · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Brookhaven as a whole is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Brookhaven differs from New York on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 11949, 11772, 11961, 11763. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brookhaven
Brookhaven has four hospitals within its borders
4 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Brookhaven. St. Charles Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room, one of three five-star hospitals in town. Getting care ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Brookhaven’s lead shrinks
Brookhaven is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, but 65% of the 5,735 towns with similar household incomes ($90K–$150K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer runs high in Brookhaven
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (8.9%), vs 7.7% across New York. Conditions ↓
Fewer Brookhaven adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills 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 Brookhaven’s likely range; Brookhaven’s figures come from ZIP codes 11949, 11772, 11961, 11763, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Brookhaven’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brookhaven is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #219 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 86% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 63%.
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). Brookhaven’s median household income is $120,110; among the 5,735 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($90K–$150K), it’s healthier than 65%, about where its income would put it.
At 496,410 residents, Brookhaven is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Brookhaven
4 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Brookhaven.
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 Brookhaven; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.6% of Brookhaven adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Out of every 100 Brookhaven adults…
Brookhaven runs below NY on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
592 miles of trails across 179 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Brookhaven adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Brookhaven adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Brookhaven does better than New York.
3 in 10 Brookhaven 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.
Brookhaven and the towns around it
Brookhaven’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookhaven | A− | 29.8% | 9.7% | 10.3% | ZIP codes |
| Riverhead | B | 32% | 11.6% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Islip | A− | 30.3% | 9.8% | 9.8% | ZIP codes |
| Calverton | — | — | — | — | |
| Manorville | — | — | — | — | |
| Wading River | — | — | — | — | |
| East Shoreham | — | — | — | — | |
| Smithtown | A | 27% | 8.8% | 8.1% | ZIP codes |
Calverton, Manorville, Wading River and East Shoreham: 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 Brookhaven adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Brookhaven
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brookhaven is better than New York on 10 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Brookhaven’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brookhaven | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.5%13.7–17.6 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.8–13.6 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.5–16.8 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.8%26.3–33.5 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.5–11 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.8%29.2–34.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%36.6–42.3 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.7%22.5–26.9 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.5–11.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8.1–9.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%5–6.6 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.7%8–11.5 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.3%8.7–11.9 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.8%20.9–26.8 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14.6–19.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%35.6–42.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.4%5.4–7.4 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%79.1–83.7 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66%63.5–68.6 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.3%89.1–91.5 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%74.2–79.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.2%64–70.4 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%73.5–82.6 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17%14.9–19.2 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.6%26.1–33.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20.5–26.4 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.2%10.4–14.2 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11%9.5–12.7 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.3–7.1 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.6%5.7–7.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.6%8.2–11.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.4%23.6–29.3 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.1%10.6–13.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%10.2–13 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.2 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.6–4.5 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.5 | 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 Brookhaven
Is Brookhaven a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brookhaven is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #219 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 65%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brookhaven?
CDC estimates 29.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.3% and 33.5%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brookhaven?
Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue, 5.4 miles in a straight line from Brookhaven’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Brookhaven have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.4–7.4%), 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 Brookhaven 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 Brookhaven.
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.