Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Ithaca is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Ithaca differs from New York on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ithaca. 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 (23.9%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.1%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Ithaca doesn’t win on
20% of adults binge drink, vs 16.3% across New York, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Ithaca
Ithaca runs below New York on nine chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (4.7% vs 11.5%), stroke (1.5% vs 3.4%) and heart disease (2.7% vs 6.1%). A young population is part of it: only 10% 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 Ithaca’s likely range.
What’s behind Ithaca’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ithaca is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #141 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 17%).
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 $48,784; among the 5,307 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
How Ithaca adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Ithaca runs above New York.
2 in 5 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 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Ithaca residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
10 miles of trails across 24 parks and preserves
Care in and near Ithaca
No hospital or community health center in Ithaca 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 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.
12% of Ithaca adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Ithaca 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca | A | 22.6% | 4.7% | 7.8% | CDC place |
| South Hill | — | — | — | — | |
| Northwest Ithaca | — | — | — | — | |
| East Ithaca | — | — | — | — | |
| Cayuga Heights | A+ | 20.6% | 7.1% | 5.9% | CDC place |
South Hill, Northwest Ithaca and East Ithaca: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. 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 16 and worse on 9; 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 | 13%11.4–14.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 12.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17.2–21.1 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.6%18.5–26.9 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 18.2%16–20.4 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 21.9%19.4–24.5 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 12.7%11.3–14.2 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.5–11.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4%3.7–4.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.7%2.5–3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.3%2.9–3.6 | 6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.5%1.4–1.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%9.1–13.3 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.8%6.7–9 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.4%14.7–20.3 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20%17–23.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.4%30.5–40.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4.9–6.6 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.3%68.6–75.8 | 80.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.3%55.9–62.7 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.7%76.3–81 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 56.8%54.5–59.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.9%65.7–73.9 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.7%74.9–85.8 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.8–27.1 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 39.2%34.3–44.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%21.1–27.9 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.4%13.2–17.7 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%9.9–13.2 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%6–7.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12%10.2–13.7 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.6%20.7–26.7 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 6%5.2–6.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%13.2–16.4 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.3%3–3.7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.2 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2%1.8–2.2 | 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 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #141 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 Ithaca?
CDC estimates 22.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.5% and 26.9%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ithaca?
Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca in Ithaca, 2.6 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 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–6.6%), 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 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.