Photo: Pubdog · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Lancaster is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Lancaster differs from New York on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lancaster. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lancaster
Lancaster is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Lancaster is healthier than 78%. Against the 10,110 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 95%. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Lancaster doesn’t win on
19.5% of adults binge drink, vs 16.3% across New York. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Depression and cancer run high in Lancaster
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (22%), vs 17.5% across New York. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.2%), vs 7.7% across New York. Conditions ↓
Fewer Lancaster 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 Lancaster’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Lancaster’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lancaster is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #301 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 88% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 60%.
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). Lancaster’s median household income is $66,148; among the 10,110 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 95%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Lancaster is healthier than 60% of graded towns, against 78% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
1.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Lancaster adults…
Lancaster runs below NY on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.4% of Lancaster adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Care in and near Lancaster
No hospital or community health center in Lancaster 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 Lancaster; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lancaster adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Lancaster adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lancaster runs above New York.
3 in 10 Lancaster 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.
Lancaster and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lancaster adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lancaster
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lancaster is better than New York on 12 and worse on 4; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Lancaster’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lancaster | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.5%13.2–17.8 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.3–14.5 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.4–18.5 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.5%27.2–35.8 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8–10.6 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.8%27.8–33.7 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%33.4–40 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.5%24.9–30.1 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.3–10.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.6%5.7–7.6 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.7–3.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10%8.2–12 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%10.5–14.8 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.8%19.4–26.2 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.5%16.8–22.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.5%31.9–39.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.2%4.1–6.5 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%79–84.2 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.9%64.1–69.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89%87.2–90.5 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%74.9–80.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%67.2–73.9 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.6%76.8–85.6 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%19.1–24.8 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 30.4%26.7–34.1 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.5–25.4 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.5%8.7–12.7 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%8.4–11.7 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.3–7.1 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.3%5.5–7.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.4%7.6–11.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.9%20.8–27.1 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.6%9.9–13.3 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%10.2–13.5 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.2–6.7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.3–8.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.6 | 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 Lancaster
Is Lancaster a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lancaster is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #301 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lancaster?
CDC estimates 31.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.2% and 35.8%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lancaster?
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo in Buffalo, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Lancaster’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lancaster have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.1–6.5%), 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster.
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.