Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Ithaca is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Ithaca differs from New York on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 14850. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ithaca
Depression is more common in Ithaca
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (22.8%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 16.9%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Ithaca
Ithaca runs below New York on nine chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (6.2% vs 11.5%), stroke (2% vs 3.4%) and heart disease (3.8% vs 6.1%). Conditions ↓
Ithaca is an active town
Only 17% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. The town has 46 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves. 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 Ithaca’s likely range; Ithaca’s figures come from ZIP code 14850, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Ithaca’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ithaca is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #93 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 53%.
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). Ithaca’s median household income is $105,978; among the 7,741 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($79K–$132K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
How Ithaca adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Ithaca runs above New York.
4 in 10 Ithaca 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.
Out of every 100 Ithaca adults…
Ithaca runs below NY on 10 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
46 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
Care in and near Ithaca
1 hospital in Ithaca, 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 Ithaca; ≈ 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 Ithaca 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 Ithaca adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Ithaca and the towns around it
Ithaca’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca | A | 23.2% | 6.2% | 7.9% | ZIP 14850 |
| Lansing | A− | 28.8% | 9.8% | 12.4% | ZIP codes |
| Dryden | A− | 27.7% | 9% | 11.5% | ZIP codes |
| Lansing | A+ | 22.9% | 7.4% | 7.8% | CDC place |
| Northeast Ithaca | — | — | — | — | |
| Enfield | A | 25.7% | 7.9% | 9.7% | ZIP codes |
| Danby | A− | 27.6% | 9% | 11.5% | ZIP codes |
| Cayuga Heights | A+ | 20.6% | 7.1% | 5.9% | CDC place |
Northeast Ithaca: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ithaca adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ithaca
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ithaca is better than New York on 20 and worse on 5; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Ithaca’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ithaca | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.5%10.9–14.1 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 12.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.1–18.7 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.2%19.1–27.6 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 22.5%20–25.1 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 26.8%23.9–29.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.6%15.7–19.5 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.8%3.4–4.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2%1.8–2.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.7%7.2–10.6 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.9%6.8–9 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17%14.3–19.8 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%16–21.9 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%29.2–39.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.9%4.2–5.6 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75%71.6–78.2 | 80.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.3%61.1–67.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%82.1–85.6 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67.2%64.7–69.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.8%68.9–76.6 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82%76.4–86.8 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%19.9–25.8 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 36.2%31.5–40.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19.8–26.3 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.9%10.3–13.7 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%8.3–11.1 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%5–6.5 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%7–8.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.5%19.6–25.3 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.6%6.5–8.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.4%11.2–13.8 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%6–7.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%2–2.4 | 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 Ithaca
Is Ithaca a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ithaca is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #93 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ithaca?
CDC estimates 23.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.1% and 27.6%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ithaca?
Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca in Ithaca, 3.9 miles in a straight line from Ithaca’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ithaca have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.2–5.6%), 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 Ithaca more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ithaca.
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.