Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Homer is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Homer differs from New York on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Homer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Homer
Cancer runs high in Homer
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 7.7% across New York. Conditions ↓
Homer keeps up with checkups
It beats New York on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (71.4% vs 63.5%) and cholesterol checks (91.4% vs 89.2%). Checkups ↓
Homer is an active town
Only 19.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. Habits ↓
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 Homer’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Homer’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Homer is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #95 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 95% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 87%.
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). Homer’s median household income is $72,472; among the 10,705 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$91K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Homer adults…
Homer runs below NY on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Homer 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.
0.4 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Homer
1 community health center in Homer, 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 Homer; ≈ 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 Homer adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Homer does better than New York.
3 in 10 Homer 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.
6.2% of Homer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Homer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homer | A | 28% | 8.5% | 9.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Homer adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Homer
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Homer is better than New York on 15 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Homer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Homer | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.5%10.2–15.1 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%9.6–13.1 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.2–16.2 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28%21.8–35.2 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.5%7.1–9.9 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.4%27.4–35.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.2–41.8 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.1%23.8–30.5 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.4–11.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%4.9–6.6 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.4%4.3–6.6 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.4–3.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.6%4.5–6.9 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.4%7.2–11.8 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.2%15.2–23.6 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15–21.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.1%29–41.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.9%3–5.3 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.3–84.6 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.4%68.3–74.2 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.4%89.7–92.8 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.4–81.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.7%68.3–77 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.7%74.3–86.2 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.4–23.9 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.8%24.1–33.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.4%16.9–24.4 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.6%5.7–9.9 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%5.8–9.4 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.4%3.5–5.4 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.8%3.9–5.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.2%4.5–8.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.9%19–27 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.5%8.4–12.6 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10%8.4–11.8 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.7–3.7 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%4.9–7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.1–3.1 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Homer
Is Homer a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Homer is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #95 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Homer?
CDC estimates 28% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.8% and 35.2%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Homer?
Guthrie Cortland Regional Medical Center in Cortland, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Homer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Homer have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3–5.3%), 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 Homer 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 Homer.
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.