Photo: w:en:Dsyrengelas · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Indian Lake is healthier than 87%
Indian Lake differs from New York on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12842, 12812. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Indian Lake
Cancer, arthritis and COPD run high in Indian Lake
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (13.4%), vs 7.7% across New York. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (35.7%), vs 24% across New York. COPD is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 6% across New York. In all, Indian Lake runs above New York on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 41% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and cancer, arthritis and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Indian Lake is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Indian Lake is healthier than 64%. Against the 9,567 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 87%. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 39 miles from Indian Lake
The closest emergency room is Adirondack Medical Center - Saranac Lake in Saranac Lake, 39.3 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Hudson Headwaters Health Network is closer (4.9 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Indian Lake, and more people treating it
41.6% of adults have high blood pressure (New York 32.6%), but 83.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Indian Lake keeps up with checkups
It beats New York on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.9% vs 80.8%) and dentist visits (69% vs 63.5%). 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 Indian Lake’s likely range; Indian Lake’s figures come from ZIP codes 12842, 12812, 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 Indian Lake’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Indian Lake is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 90% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 36%).
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). Indian Lake’s median household income is $62,824; among the 9,567 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 87%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Indian Lake adults…
Indian Lake runs below NY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Indian Lake is an older town: 41% 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 Indian Lake as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Indian Lake
1 community health center in Indian Lake, 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 Indian Lake; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Indian Lake 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.
162 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
How Indian Lake adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Indian Lake does better than New York.
3 in 10 Indian Lake 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.
9% of Indian Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Indian Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Lake | B | 30.6% | 13% | 12.3% | ZIP codes |
| Minerva | — | — | — | — | |
| Lake Pleasant | — | — | — | — | |
| Wells | — | — | — | — | |
| Arietta | — | — | — | — | |
| Johnsburg | B+ | 31.2% | 12.4% | 12.6% | ZIP codes |
| Long Lake | — | — | — | — | |
| Speculator | — | — | — | — |
Minerva, Lake Pleasant, Wells, Arietta, Long Lake and Speculator: 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 Indian Lake adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Indian Lake
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Indian Lake is better than New York on 13 and worse on 7; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Indian Lake’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Indian Lake | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.7%14.2–21.5 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%12.5–17.4 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%11.9–16 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.6%23.2–38.5 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%10.9–15.3 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.6%36.7–46.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44.3%39.5–49.2 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 35.7%31.5–39.9 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 13.4%12–15 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.5–10.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7–10.7 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.6%7.8–11.8 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%9.3–15.5 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.1%20.6–32.1 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.4–16.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.9%27.7–40.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.6%3.4–6.2 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.9%82–87.4 | 80.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69%65.7–72.3 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 93.2%91.9–94.2 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.4%80.5–86 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 75.8%71.6–79.9 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.4%75.1–86.8 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.1–22.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.8%23.5–33.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.3%17.4–25.3 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10%7.4–12.9 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.4%6.5–10.4 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.2–6.3 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%4.6–6.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9%6.6–11.8 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.9%24.8–35.4 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.4%13.3–19.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.9%9.1–13 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.1–9.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%3.9–5.6 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%6.4–9.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.3–4.8 | 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 Indian Lake
Is Indian Lake a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Indian Lake is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Indian Lake?
CDC estimates 30.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.2% and 38.5%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Indian Lake have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.4–6.2%), 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 Indian Lake 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 Indian Lake.
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.