Photo: Ken Winters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Dunkirk is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns
Dunkirk trails New York on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dunkirk. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dunkirk
COPD, obesity and heart disease run high in Dunkirk
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 6% across New York. 2 in 5 adults have obesity (40.1%), vs 28.8% across New York. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.9%, vs 6.1% across New York. In all, Dunkirk runs above New York on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Dunkirk
53.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.5% across New York. Among those 65 and older, 20.1% have lost all their teeth (New York 12.8%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Dunkirk
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24%), vs 17.2% across New York. Utility shut-off threats (11.8% vs 8.2%) and no reliable transportation (11.9% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 22.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dunkirk is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Dunkirk is healthier than 18%. Against the 6,876 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 37%. Health Grade ↓
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 Dunkirk’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Dunkirk’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dunkirk is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #738 of 755 in New York. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 42% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Dunkirk’s median household income is $53,299; among the 6,876 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 37%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Dunkirk is healthier than 2% of graded towns, against 18% nationally.
Out of every 100 Dunkirk adults…
Dunkirk runs above NY on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dunkirk 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.
22.5% of Dunkirk adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Care in and near Dunkirk
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Dunkirk, 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 Dunkirk; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
1.3 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Dunkirk adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Dunkirk runs above New York.
1 in 3 Dunkirk 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.
Dunkirk and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dunkirk adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dunkirk
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dunkirk is better than New York on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Dunkirk’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dunkirk | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.7%21.8–27.8 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15–18.8 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.5–19.6 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%32.9–47.4 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.5%12.7–16.5 | 11.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.8%33.8–42 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%34–42.4 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%26–32.5 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%8.1–10.1 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.9–4.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.1%16.9–23.8 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14.1–18.7 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.3%28.5–38 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.8–18.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42%35.9–48.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.3%10.7–14.1 | 7.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77.1–83.5 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.9%50.3–57.6 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%85.3–88.4 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%75–80.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.1%60.3–69.7 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.4%69.4–82.6 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.9%16.8–23.3 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%27.4–37.5 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%21.7–29.1 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24%20.9–27.2 | 17.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.5%17–22 | 14.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10.4–13.4 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.5%19.8–25.4 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.8%29.7–38.2 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.8%15.7–20 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%14.1–17.7 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.9–8.2 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.4–11.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5–6 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Dunkirk
Is Dunkirk a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dunkirk is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #738 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 37%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dunkirk?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 47.4%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dunkirk?
Brooks-TLC Hospital System in Dunkirk, 0.1 miles in a straight line from Dunkirk’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dunkirk have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.7–14.1%), 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 Dunkirk more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dunkirk.
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.