Photo: Nandaro · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Niagara Falls is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Niagara Falls trails New York on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Niagara Falls. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Niagara Falls
Every town around Niagara Falls scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Niagara Falls’ D, from Niagara (C+) to Grand Island (A). Around town ↓
COPD, obesity and stroke run high in Niagara Falls
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 6% across New York. 44.5% of adults have obesity, vs 28.8% across New York. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.4% across New York. In all, Niagara Falls runs above New York on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Niagara Falls
1 in 8 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (13.3%), vs 8.2% across New York. Food insecurity (23.8% vs 17.2%) and no reliable transportation (12.6% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 25.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Niagara Falls is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Niagara Falls is healthier than 13%. Against the 5,443 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 35%. Health Grade ↓
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 Niagara Falls’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Niagara Falls’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Niagara Falls is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #750 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 24% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Niagara Falls’ median household income is $49,101; among the 5,443 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 35%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Niagara Falls and the towns around it
Niagara Falls’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara Falls | D | 44.5% | 13.9% | 17.8% | CDC place |
| Niagara | C+ | 40.8% | 12.1% | 14.8% | ZIP codes |
| Wheatfield | B | 38.1% | 10.6% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| Grand Island | A | 29.6% | 9.3% | 10.3% | ZIP 14072 |
| Lewiston | B+ | 37% | 10.8% | 11.8% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Niagara Falls adults…
Niagara Falls runs above NY on 10 of 12 conditions. 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.
25.1% of Niagara Falls adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Care in and near Niagara Falls
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Niagara Falls adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Niagara Falls adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Niagara Falls runs above New York.
1 in 3 Niagara Falls 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Niagara Falls adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Niagara Falls
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Niagara Falls is better than New York on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Niagara Falls’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Niagara Falls | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.9%21.5–26.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.9–18.5 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.8–20.9 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.5%38.1–51.6 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12.3–15.8 | 11.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40%36.4–44.2 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%31.5–39.3 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%26–32.2 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.5%11.2–14.1 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.9–8.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%8.5–10.3 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–4.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.3%17.2–23.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8%15.8–20.2 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.6%28.6–37.3 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.5–17.9 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42%36.4–47.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%7–9.1 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.3%79.5–85.2 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.8%52.4–59.2 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.7–88.6 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.9–80 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.7%58.9–68.4 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%68.1–81.6 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%18.7–25.2 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.7%27.9–37.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%22.6–30 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.8%21.2–26.6 | 17.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.2%17–21.6 | 14.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.3%11.8–14.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.6%11.2–14 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.1%22.7–27.6 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%29.3–37.2 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.9%16.1–20.1 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%14.3–17.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.7–7.8 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%10.2–12.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.3–6.2 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Niagara Falls
Is Niagara Falls a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Niagara Falls is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: D for health, #750 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 35%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Niagara Falls?
CDC estimates 44.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.1% and 51.6%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Niagara Falls?
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center in Niagara Falls, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Niagara Falls’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Niagara Falls have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.1%), 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 Niagara Falls more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Niagara Falls.
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.