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Old Parsonage, Old Chatham (Columbia County, New York) (retouched)Photo: Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer · Public domain
A−Health Grade
Health in Chatham · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Chatham is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns

Chatham differs from New York on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 2 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chatham. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Chatham

Cancer and arthritis run high in Chatham

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.9%), vs 7.7% across New York. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (27.9%), vs 24% across New York. Conditions ↓

Fewer Chatham adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

Nearly everyone in Chatham is insured

Only 5.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 7.9% across New York. Checkups ↓

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 Chatham’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Chatham’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chatham is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 82% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 73%.

A−Self-rated health15.3% · NY 18.1% · U.S. 19.4%
B+Physical distress12.5% · NY 12.8% · U.S. 13%
A−Mental distress15% · NY 15% · U.S. 15.9%
A−Obesity30.3% · NY 28.8% · U.S. 32.9%
A−Diabetes10.2% · NY 11.5% · U.S. 12%
A−Smoking11.7% smoke · NY 11.3% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise22.1% · NY 25.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 83%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $60K–$100K (10,750)Healthier than 93%

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). Chatham’s median household income is $79,886; among the 10,750 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 93%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Chatham could be anywhere from B− to A+.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Chatham adults…

Chatham runs above NY on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Chatham adults have had cancer
New York: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 8.9–10.9%
Better than NYWorseAbout the sameNew York
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 9
Chatham adults worry about having enough food
11% · NY 17.2%
Better than NY
1 in 10
Chatham adults worry about keeping their housing
9.7% · NY 14.5%
Better than NY
1 in 17
Chatham adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6% · NY 8.2%
Better than NY
1 in 16
Chatham adults lack reliable transportation
6.4% · NY 8.6%
Better than NY

9.7% of Chatham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Chatham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.

81%Yearly checkupNY 81%
70%Dentist visitNY 64%
90%Cholesterol checkNY 89%
72%Colon screeningNY 67%
78%MammogramNY 79%
78%Taking BP medsNY 77%
1 in 20
working-age adults has no health insurance
Chatham 5.1% · New York 1 in 13 (7.9%)
Getting care

Care in and near Chatham

No hospital or community health center in Chatham itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERColumbia Memorial HospitalHudson · 12.1 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyFairview Hospital★★★★★ · 16.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSun River Health HudsonHudson · 12.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
12.1 mi
Columbia Memorial Hospital
Hudson · ★★★★★
ER
12.3 mi
Sun River Health Hudson
Hudson · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
16.4 mi
Community Health Programs, Incorporated
6 sites · nearest in Great Barrington
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
16.5 mi
Fairview Hospital
Great Barrington · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
19.2 mi
Berkshire Medical Center
Pittsfield · ★★★★★
ER
21.7 mi
Albany VA Medical Center
Albany · ★★★★★
ERFor veterans
✓ Primary careChatham is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careChatham is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthChatham is not a shortage area

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 Chatham; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with New York

Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.

Get no exercise 22.1%NY 25.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.6%NY 37.9%
Binge drink 17.2%NY 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 11.7%NY 11.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Chatham, betterChatham, worseAbout the sameNew York
Where Chatham gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Chatham adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Chatham does better than New York.

3 in 10Chatham adults feel lonely
30.5% · NY 34.2% · About the same as NY
1 in 4Chatham adults lack social or emotional support
22.3% · NY 26.4% · Better than NY
1 in 5Chatham adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.4% · NY 17.5% · About the same as NY
1 in 7Chatham adults are in frequent mental distress
15% · NY 15% · About the same as NY
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Chatham adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Chatham and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
ChathamA−30.3%10.2%11.7%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

25.9%

of Chatham adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs12.3%
Thinking or memory11.4%
Hearing6%
Errands alone7.1%
Vision4.1%
Dressing or bathing3.3%
New York

Every CDC estimate for Chatham

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chatham is better than New York on 8 and worse on 2; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Chatham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…ChathamNYU.S.vs NY
Overall health
Fair or poor health15.3%12.9–18.218.1%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12.5%10.7–14.512.8%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15%13.2–17.215%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity30.3%23.9–37.328.8%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.2%8.7–11.811.5%12%About the same
High blood pressure32.9%29.2–36.832.6%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)39.3%35–43.537.7%37.1%About the same
Arthritis27.9%24.7–31.224%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.8%9.6–12.210.3%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.9%8.9–10.97.7%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease6.3%5.5–7.16.1%6.4%About the same
COPD6.6%5.5–7.86%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.2%2.9–3.73.4%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)13.1%10.8–15.712.8%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes11.7%9.4–14.311.3%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work22.1%18.1–26.925.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking17.2%14.2–20.316.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours34.6%28.7–40.837.9%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)5.1%4.1–6.37.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year80.7%77.3–83.680.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year69.6%66.4–72.763.5%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years90.3%88.7–91.789.2%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.4%75.3–81.177.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)71.8%67.2–7666.8%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.1%71–84.278.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression20.4%17.3–23.917.5%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely30.5%25.8–35.634.2%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.3%18.9–25.926.4%23.6%Better
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food11%8.9–13.517.2%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing9.7%8–11.514.5%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off6%5–7.18.2%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation6.4%5.4–7.58.6%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)9.7%7.7–1214.1%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability25.9%22–30.427.2%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs12.3%10.3–14.613.4%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering11.4%9.7–13.212.1%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6%5.2–6.85.6%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.1%3.5–4.75.2%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone7.1%6–8.37.7%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.3%2.8–3.93.8%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 Chatham

Is Chatham a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chatham is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Chatham?

CDC estimates 30.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.9% and 37.3%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Chatham?

Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, 12.1 miles in a straight line from Chatham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.

How many people in Chatham have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 5.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.1–6.3%), 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 Chatham 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 Chatham.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.