Photo: Robert Justin Close · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Essex residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Essex, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12936, 12993. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Essex
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Essex
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.3%), vs 7.7% across New York. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 6.1% across New York. Arthritis is also above the state: 33.2%, vs 24% across New York. In all, Essex runs above New York on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Essex, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (New York 32.6%), but 81% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer Essex adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 10 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 Essex’s likely range; Essex’s figures come from ZIP codes 12936, 12993, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Essex adults…
Essex runs above NY on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Essex 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.
8.8% of Essex adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Care in and near Essex
No hospital or community health center in Essex 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 Essex; ≈ 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.
31 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Essex adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Essex does better than New York.
3 in 10 Essex 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.
Essex 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 Essex adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Essex
Why doesn’t Essex have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Essex.
What hospital is closest to Essex?
Elizabethtown Community Hospital in Elizabethtown, 11.3 miles in a straight line from Essex’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Essex.
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. 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.