On CDC estimates, New Paltz is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
New Paltz differs from New York on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for New Paltz. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in New Paltz
New Paltz is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, New Paltz is healthier than 83%. Against the 6,714 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 99%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in New Paltz
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20.2%), vs 15% across New York. Depression is above the state too: 22.9%, vs 17.5% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in New Paltz
New Paltz runs below New York on eight chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (6.4% vs 11.5%), stroke (2.2% vs 3.4%) and high cholesterol (25.5% vs 37.7%). A young population is part of it: only 8% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%). Conditions ↓
New Paltz is an active town
Only 21.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. 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 New Paltz’s likely range.
What’s behind New Paltz’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Paltz is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, #227 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 8%).
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). New Paltz’s median household income is $52,774; among the 6,714 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 99%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How New Paltz adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, New Paltz runs above New York.
2 in 5 New Paltz 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 New Paltz adults…
New Paltz runs below NY on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of New Paltz 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.
5.8 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near New Paltz
No hospital or community health center in New Paltz 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 New Paltz; ≈ 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 New Paltz 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.
13% of New Paltz adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
New Paltz and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Paltz | A− | 25.2% | 6.4% | 8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of New Paltz adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for New Paltz
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, New Paltz is better than New York on 12 and worse on 6; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside New Paltz’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | New Paltz | 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) | 10.7%9.2–12.3 | 12.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.2%17.5–23.1 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.2%20.6–30.4 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.4%5.5–7.3 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23.8%21.2–26.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 25.5%22.8–28.4 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 16.3%14.5–18.1 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%1.9–2.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.1%12.3–18 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8%6.6–9.7 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21.5%17.7–25.5 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14.1–19.8 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%31–41.7 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.2–8.1 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.2%73.7–80.5 | 80.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.4%59.9–66.8 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.3%77.4–83.2 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66.2%64.3–68.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.5%61.9–70.7 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.5%68.3–81.5 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%19.7–26.4 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37.6%32.3–42.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%20.1–27.8 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.3%12.9–20 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%10.6–15.6 | 14.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.5%6.2–8.8 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%9.2–13 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13%10.2–15.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27%22.9–31.3 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.8%7.4–10.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%13.5–18.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%7.5–10.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.3–3 | 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 New Paltz
Is New Paltz a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Paltz is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #227 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in New Paltz?
CDC estimates 25.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.6% and 30.4%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to New Paltz?
Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, 8.4 miles in a straight line from New Paltz’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in New Paltz have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–8.1%), 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 New Paltz 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 New Paltz.
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.