Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Dover is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns
Dover differs from New York on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12522, 12594, 12564. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dover
Cancer and arthritis run high in Dover
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.2%), vs 7.7% across New York. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (27.6%), vs 24% across New York. Conditions ↓
Dover has a community health center but no hospital
Sun River Health is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Sharon Hospital in Sharon, 14.6 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Dover’s likely range; Dover’s figures come from ZIP codes 12522, 12594, 12564, 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 Dover’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dover is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, #328 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 85% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 64%.
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). Dover’s median household income is $91,803; among the 9,752 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 74%, about where its income would put it.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Dover is healthier than 57% of graded towns, against 75% nationally.
Out of every 100 Dover adults…
Dover runs above NY on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Dover
1 community health center in Dover, 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 Dover; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
19 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Dover adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Dover adults are doing
About the same as New York on each measure.
1 in 3 Dover 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.6% of Dover adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Dover and the towns around it
Dover’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | B+ | 29.5% | 10.7% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Amenia | B+ | 29.1% | 11.3% | 14.1% | ZIP codes |
| Union Vale | A | 27.6% | 9.5% | 10.9% | ZIP codes |
| Beekman | A | 27.2% | 9% | 10.5% | ZIP codes |
| Pawling | A | 27.2% | 9.8% | 10.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dover adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dover
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dover is better than New York on 2 and worse on 2; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Dover’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dover | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.9%14.6–19.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.7–15.1 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.7–17.4 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.5%24.6–35.2 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.2–12.3 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.8%31.2–38.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33.8–41.4 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.6%24.7–30.7 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.5–11.9 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.3–10 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.9%6–7.9 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.1–3.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.8%10.5–15.3 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%11–15.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.6%20–27.7 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.7–17.9 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%31.9–42.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%6.1–8.5 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%76.7–82.6 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.4%58–64.6 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.7%88.3–91 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.2–80.8 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.4%64.8–73.5 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%71.2–83.3 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.7%17–22.7 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.7%27.8–37.5 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24%20.4–27.8 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%11.4–16 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.3–14.1 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6–8.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.5–8.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.6%9.7–13.6 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.5%24–31.4 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.2%11.4–15.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%11.1–14.3 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.4–7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.7–8.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 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 Dover
Is Dover a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dover is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #328 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 74%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dover?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.6% and 35.2%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dover?
Sharon Hospital in Sharon, 14.6 miles in a straight line from Dover’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dover have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–8.5%), 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 Dover 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 Dover.
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.