Photo: Elisa.rolle · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Hillsdale is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns
Hillsdale differs from New York on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12529, 12521. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hillsdale
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Hillsdale
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (11.9%), vs 7.7% across New York. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.7%), vs 24% across New York. Heart disease is also above the state: 8%, vs 6.1% across New York. In all, Hillsdale runs above New York on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Hillsdale, and more people treating it
37.2% of adults have high blood pressure (New York 32.6%), but 81.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale’s likely range; Hillsdale’s figures come from ZIP codes 12529, 12521, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Hillsdale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hillsdale is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 92% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 57%.
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). Hillsdale’s median household income is $76,700; among the 10,826 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$96K), it’s healthier than 89%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Hillsdale adults…
Hillsdale runs above NY on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Hillsdale is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Hillsdale as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Hillsdale 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.
9.1% of Hillsdale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Care in and near Hillsdale
No hospital or community health center in Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale; ≈ 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.
3.9 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Hillsdale adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Hillsdale does better than New York.
3 in 10 Hillsdale 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.
Hillsdale and the towns around it
Hillsdale’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale | A− | 29.7% | 11.6% | 11.7% | ZIP codes |
| Copake | B+ | 30.9% | 11.8% | 13.5% | ZIP codes |
| Austerlitz | A | 28.5% | 10.6% | 9.9% | ZIP codes |
| Ghent | B+ | 30.9% | 11.7% | 12.5% | ZIP codes |
| Claverack | B | 31.9% | 12.4% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hillsdale adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hillsdale
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hillsdale is better than New York on 9 and worse on 6; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Hillsdale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hillsdale | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.4%13.9–19.2 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.5–15.2 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12–15.4 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.7%23.4–36.5 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%9.9–13.5 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.2%33–41.4 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.8%38.4–47.2 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.1–35.3 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.9%10.8–13.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7–9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.6%6.4–8.9 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.4–4.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.1%10–14.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7%9.6–14 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%19.3–27.9 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.7–18.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.1%27.3–39.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%4.3–6.6 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.5%79.5–85.2 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.3%66.2–72.5 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.6%90.3–92.8 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.6%78.7–84.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%66.4–75.2 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80%73.4–85.7 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.8%15.9–21.9 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.3%24.6–34.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.5–25.6 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.4%8.4–12.6 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7.2–10.3 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.5–6.3 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.9%5–6.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.1%7.4–11.2 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.1%24–32.4 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.2%12–16.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.8%9.4–12.4 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.6–8.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.9–5.1 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.2–8.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.1–4.2 | 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 Hillsdale
Is Hillsdale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hillsdale is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hillsdale?
CDC estimates 29.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 36.5%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hillsdale?
Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Hillsdale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hillsdale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.3–6.6%), 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 Hillsdale more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hillsdale.
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.