Tripp House and Store Complex · Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Durham is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Durham differs from New York on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12418, 12423, 12422, 12083. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Durham
Cancer and arthritis run high in Durham
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 7.7% across New York. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29.2%), vs 24% across New York. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Durham
The closest emergency room is Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, 21.1 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Fewer Durham 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 Durham is insured
Only 5.5% 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 Durham’s likely range; Durham’s figures come from ZIP codes 12418, 12423, 12422, 12083, 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 Durham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, #337 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 78% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 59%.
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). Durham’s median household income is $81,471; among the 10,685 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 82%, about where its income would put it.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Durham is healthier than 55% of graded towns, against 74% nationally.
Out of every 100 Durham adults…
Durham runs above NY on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Durham
No hospital or community health center in Durham 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 Durham; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.8% of Durham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Keeping up with care
Share of Durham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
8.7 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Durham adults are doing
About the same as New York on each measure.
1 in 3 Durham 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.
Durham and the towns around it
Durham’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | B+ | 32.8% | 10.5% | 12.8% | ZIP codes |
| Windham | B+ | 33.5% | 12.1% | 11.5% | ZIP codes |
| Greenville | A− | 32.4% | 10.3% | 12.3% | ZIP codes |
| Cairo | B− | 35.3% | 12% | 14.7% | ZIP codes |
| East Durham | — | — | — | — | |
| Conesville | — | — | — | — | |
| Rensselaerville | A | 29.8% | 10.1% | 10.8% | ZIP codes |
East Durham and Conesville: 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 Durham adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Durham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Durham is better than New York on 5 and worse on 2; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Durham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Durham | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.4%13.5–19.5 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.7–15.7 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.2–17.3 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.8%26–39.2 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.5%8.9–12.1 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.5%30.5–38.3 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%34.9–43 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%25.8–32.4 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.3–11.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%5.8–7.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.2%5.9–8.6 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3–4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.7%12.2–17.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%10.1–15.6 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.7%19.3–28.4 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.8%14.9–20.6 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.6%31.6–44 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.2–7 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%77.9–83.8 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.5%60.2–67 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.2%88.6–91.7 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.6–81.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.6%64–73.1 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%70.3–83.3 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.6%17.5–23.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32%27–37.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.6%18.9–26.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.2%8.7–13.9 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%7.9–11.8 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%4.8–6.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.3%5.2–7.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%7.4–12.2 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.3%23–31.8 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.2%10.9–15.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.9%10–13.9 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.7–7.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.6–4.9 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.2–8.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.9–4.1 | 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 Durham
Is Durham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #337 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 82%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Durham?
CDC estimates 32.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 26% and 39.2%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Durham?
Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, 21.1 miles in a straight line from Durham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Durham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.2–7%), 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 Durham 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 Durham.
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.