Photo: Caroline Tompkins · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Caroline is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
Caroline differs from New York on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 14817, 13736, 14850, 14881. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Caroline
Depression and cancer run high in Caroline
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (22.2%), vs 17.5% across New York. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.3%), vs 7.7% across New York. Conditions ↓
Caroline is an active town
Only 18.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. The town has 31 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Fewer Caroline adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Caroline is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A tops all five graded neighbors. The closest is Dryden (A−). Around town ↓
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 Caroline’s likely range; Caroline’s figures come from ZIP codes 14817, 13736, 14850, 14881, 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 Caroline’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Caroline is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, #123 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 93% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 80%.
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). Caroline’s median household income is $80,855; among the 10,711 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$101K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Caroline adults…
Caroline runs below NY on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
31 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.1% of Caroline adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Caroline and the towns around it
Caroline has the best Health Grade of the 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
Care in and near Caroline
No hospital or community health center in Caroline 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 Caroline; ≈ 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 Caroline adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Caroline adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Caroline runs above New York.
1 in 3 Caroline 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 Caroline adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Caroline
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Caroline is better than New York on 13 and worse on 2; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Caroline’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Caroline | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.5%11.5–15.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.1–13.1 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.3–16.9 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.5%22.6–32.6 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.7%7.5–10 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.4%27.2–33.7 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%30.9–37.8 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.8%23.1–28.6 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.7–12 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.6%4.7–6.6 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.8%8.2–11.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.7%8.7–12.9 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.7%15.5–22.2 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15.5–21.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%29.6–39.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.3%3.4–5.3 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.7–81.8 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.2%65.2–71 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.1%88.6–91.5 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.6%71.6–77.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 75.6%71.9–79 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81%75.4–85.8 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%19.3–25.2 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 30.9%26.7–35.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.1%18–24.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.4%7.6–11.5 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.8%7.2–10.5 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.5–6.3 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.8%4.9–6.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.1%6.4–10 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.9%19.7–26.3 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%8.8–12 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.7%9.3–12.3 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.6–5.9 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%3–3.9 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.4–3.2 | 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 Caroline
Is Caroline a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Caroline is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health, #123 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Caroline?
CDC estimates 27.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.6% and 32.6%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Caroline?
Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca in Ithaca, 13.0 miles in a straight line from Caroline’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Caroline have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.4–5.3%), 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 Caroline 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 Caroline.
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.