Photo: DVIDSHUB · CC BY 2.0Where Fort Drum residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Fort Drum, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fort Drum. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fort Drum
Binge drinking is the habit Fort Drum doesn’t win on
27.4% of adults binge drink, vs 16.3% across New York, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Fort Drum is behind on routine checkups
It trails New York on four of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (71.4% vs 80.8%), dentist visits (56% vs 63.5%), cholesterol checks (75.5% vs 89.2%) and colon screening (46.3% vs 66.8%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Fort Drum
Fort Drum runs below New York on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (1.4% vs 7.7%), heart disease (1.2% vs 6.1%) and stroke (0.8% vs 3.4%). A young population is part of it: only 0% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%). Conditions ↓
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 Fort Drum’s likely range.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
Out of every 100 Fort Drum adults…
Fort Drum runs below NY on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 0% of Fort Drum residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fort Drum adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Care in and near Fort Drum
No hospital or community health center in Fort Drum 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 Fort Drum; ≈ 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).
How Fort Drum adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Fort Drum runs above New York.
2 in 5 Fort Drum 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.
13.4% of Fort Drum adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Fort Drum 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Ray | B+ | 35.5% | 6.7% | 12.2% | ZIP codes |
| Champion | C+ | 39.2% | 11.2% | 16% | ZIP codes |
| Calcium | — | — | — | — | |
| Great Bend | — | — | — | — | |
| Black River | B | 37.8% | 10.6% | 13.8% | CDC place |
Calcium: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Great Bend: 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 Fort Drum adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Fort Drum
Why doesn’t Fort Drum have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Fort Drum.
What hospital is closest to Fort Drum?
Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, 8.3 miles in a straight line from Fort Drum’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Fort Drum?
3 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is North Country Family Health Center - Evans Mills in Evans Mills, 2.2 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fort Drum.
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.