Photo: Webb_Herkimer_NY.png: Schzmo *derivative work: Liesel · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Columbia is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns
Columbia differs from New York on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 13439, 13357, 13407, 13491. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbia
COPD, cancer and arthritis run high in Columbia
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 6% across New York. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 7.7% across New York. Arthritis is also above the state: 32.2%, vs 24% across New York. In all, Columbia runs above New York on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Columbia
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (20.8%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 16.8%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Columbia
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.9%), vs 11.3% across New York. 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 Columbia’s likely range; Columbia’s figures come from ZIP codes 13439, 13357, 13407, 13491, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Columbia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 56% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 35%).
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). Columbia’s median household income is $90,795; among the 9,864 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($68K–$113K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Columbia compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 5.9% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Columbia adults…
Columbia runs above NY on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Columbia adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Columbia runs above New York.
1 in 3 Columbia 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Columbia
No hospital or community health center in Columbia 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 Columbia; ≈ 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 Columbia 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.
13.5% of Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Columbia and the towns around it
Columbia’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 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
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | B− | 35.7% | 11.7% | 14.9% | ZIP codes |
| German Flatts | B | 36.5% | 10.7% | 14.2% | ZIP codes |
| Litchfield | B | 36% | 10.7% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| Warren | B− | 35.2% | 12.1% | 15.1% | ZIP codes |
| Winfield | B− | 35.4% | 11.4% | 14.8% | ZIP 13491 |
| Richfield | C+ | 34.3% | 12.8% | 15.2% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbia adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbia is better than New York on 4 and worse on 11; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Columbia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbia | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.9%16.6–21.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.6–16.9 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15.2–18.6 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%30.7–41 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.4–13.3 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.7%33.6–40.1 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.4%36–43 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.2%29.5–35.2 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.3–12.6 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.6–11.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.2%12.8–17.9 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%13–17.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.8%24.2–31.7 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.7–19.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.9%31.2–40.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.9%4.9–7 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.8–83 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.7%58.6–64.7 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.1%87.7–90.4 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.7–81.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%65.3–73 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%72.1–83 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%18.2–23.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31%27.1–35.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%19.9–26 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%11.6–15.9 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.9–13.1 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.2–8.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.7–8.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.5%11.5–15.7 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.2%26.9–33.9 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%14–17.8 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.5%12–15.1 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8–9.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 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 Columbia
Is Columbia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbia?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 41%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbia?
Little Falls Hospital in Little Falls, 12.8 miles in a straight line from Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7%), 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 Columbia more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbia.
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.