Nelson Welsh Congregational Church · Photo: Beangus · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Nelson is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Nelson differs from New York on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 13061, 13035, 13408, 13334. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nelson
Cancer and obesity run high in Nelson
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 7.7% across New York. 1 in 3 adults have obesity (35.6%), vs 28.8% across New York. In all, Nelson runs above New York on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Nelson is an active town
Only 20.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. The town has 33 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Fewer Nelson adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 11 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 Nelson’s likely range; Nelson’s figures come from ZIP codes 13061, 13035, 13408, 13334, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
What’s behind Nelson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nelson is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns. 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 87% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 55%.
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). Nelson’s median household income is $82,063; among the 10,616 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$103K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Nelson adults…
Nelson runs below NY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
33 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.2% of Nelson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Care in and near Nelson
No hospital or community health center in Nelson 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 Nelson; ≈ 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 Nelson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Nelson adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Nelson does better than New York.
3 in 10 Nelson 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.
Nelson and the towns around it
Nelson’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson | A− | 35.6% | 10% | 11% | ZIP codes |
| Cazenovia | A | 34.3% | 9.3% | 9.8% | ZIP codes |
| Georgetown | — | — | — | — | |
| Fenner | A− | 35.1% | 9.6% | 10.7% | ZIP codes |
| Eaton | B+ | 36.6% | 9.6% | 12.7% | ZIP codes |
Georgetown: 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 Nelson adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Nelson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Nelson is better than New York on 11 and worse on 3; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Nelson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Nelson | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.5%12.2–17 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.7–14.3 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.1–17 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%29.1–42.9 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10%8.5–11.6 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.8%30.1–37.9 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%35–43.3 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%25.7–32.3 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.4–11.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.7–7.4 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.5–7.6 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.3%6.7–10.1 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11%8.9–13.4 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.2%16.6–24.4 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.3–20.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%30–42.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.3%3.4–5.4 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%79.2–85 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.2%64.8–71.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.5%89–91.9 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%75.9–81.5 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72%67.4–76.2 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.6%71.6–84.6 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.3%17.3–23.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.5%25.6–35.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.3%17.9–25.1 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.5%7.6–11.9 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.8%7.2–10.6 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.5–6.5 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.9%5–7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.2%6.5–10.2 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.7%21.9–29.8 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%10–13.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.2%9.6–12.9 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.5–7.2 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%5.8–7.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.7–3.6 | 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 Nelson
Is Nelson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nelson is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Nelson?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 42.9%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Nelson?
Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton, 11.4 miles in a straight line from Nelson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Nelson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.4–5.4%), 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 Nelson 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 Nelson.
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.