Photo: Novis-M · Public domainWithin New York, Chester is healthier than 40% of graded towns
Chester differs from New York on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12817, 12853, 12860, 12870. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chester
Cancer, COPD and arthritis run high in Chester
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.1%), vs 7.7% across New York. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 6% across New York. Arthritis is also above the state: 33.9%, vs 24% across New York. In all, Chester runs above New York on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and cancer, COPD and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 29 miles from Chester
The closest emergency room is Glens Falls Hospital in Glens Falls, 28.6 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Hudson Headwaters Health Network is closer (4.8 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Chester, and more people treating it
39.8% of adults have high blood pressure (New York 32.6%), but 82.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer Chester 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 ↓
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 Chester’s likely range; Chester’s figures come from ZIP codes 12817, 12853, 12860, 12870, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Chester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chester is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns, #454 of 755 in New York. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 84% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 36%).
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). Chester’s median household income is $84,623; among the 10,423 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$106K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Chester adults…
Chester runs above NY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Chester is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Chester as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Chester
1 community health center in Chester, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Chester; ≈ 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 Chester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.6% of Chester 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.
67 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Chester adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Chester runs above New York.
3 in 10 Chester 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.
Chester and the towns around it
Chester’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | B | 31.5% | 12.8% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Horicon | B+ | 30.2% | 12.3% | 11.7% | ZIP codes |
| Johnsburg | B+ | 31.2% | 12.4% | 12.6% | ZIP codes |
| Pottersville | — | — | — | — | |
| Thurman | C | 34.2% | 13.6% | 17.1% | ZIP codes |
| Warrensburg | B− | 32.9% | 12.3% | 15.2% | ZIP codes |
| Minerva | — | — | — | — | |
| North Creek | — | — | — | — |
Pottersville, Minerva and North Creek: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chester adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chester is better than New York on 10 and worse on 8; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Chester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chester | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19%16.4–21.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.1–17 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13.1–16.6 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.5%26–37.4 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11.1–14.7 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.8%36–43.6 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%37.3–45.2 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.9%30.5–37.3 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.3 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.1%11–13.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.5–10.1 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.5%12.8–18.4 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%10.9–15.4 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.3%21.3–29.6 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.6–16.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.8%27.7–38 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%4.2–6.4 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.4%80.7–85.8 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%62.2–68.6 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.2%89.9–92.4 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.3%79.7–84.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.9%69.5–77.7 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.8%73.4–85.1 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%17.6–23.4 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 29.2%24.9–33.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.4%18.3–24.9 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.4%9.2–13.6 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.2%7.6–10.9 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%4.9–6.7 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.6%8.6–12.7 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%26.4–34.5 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%13.8–18.6 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.9%10.4–13.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.3–5.6 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7–9.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.7 | 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 Chester
Is Chester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chester is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #454 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chester?
CDC estimates 31.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26% and 37.4%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chester?
Glens Falls Hospital in Glens Falls, 28.6 miles in a straight line from Chester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Chester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.2–6.4%), 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 Chester more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chester.
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.