Town of Niagara District School No. 2 · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Niagara is healthier than 66%
Niagara differs from New York on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 14304, 14305. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Niagara
Obesity, COPD and cancer run high in Niagara
2 in 5 adults have obesity (40.8%), vs 28.8% across New York. 1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.1%), vs 6% across New York. Cancer is also above the state: 9.4%, vs 7.7% across New York. In all, Niagara runs above New York on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Niagara
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (21.3%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 17%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Niagara
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.8%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
Niagara is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Niagara is healthier than 39%. Against the 7,908 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 66%. 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’s likely range; Niagara’s figures come from ZIP codes 14304, 14305, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Niagara’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Niagara is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns, #648 of 755 in New York. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 51% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 16%).
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’s median household income is $56,645; among the 7,908 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 66%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Niagara is healthier than 14% of graded towns, against 39% nationally.
Where Niagara compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 6.3% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Niagara adults…
Niagara runs above NY on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Niagara adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Niagara runs above New York.
1 in 3 Niagara 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
4.8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Niagara
No hospital or community health center in Niagara 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 Niagara; ≈ 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 Niagara 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.
16.8% of Niagara adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Niagara and the towns around it
Niagara’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara | C+ | 40.8% | 12.1% | 14.8% | ZIP codes |
| Niagara Falls | D | 44.5% | 13.9% | 17.8% | CDC place |
| Lewiston | B+ | 37% | 10.8% | 11.8% | ZIP codes |
| Wheatfield | B | 38.1% | 10.6% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Niagara adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Niagara
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Niagara is better than New York on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Niagara’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Niagara | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.8%17.5–22.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.3–16.8 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.3–19.1 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.8%34.6–48 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.1%10.7–13.8 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38%34.4–42.1 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%32–39.9 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%25.9–32.2 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.3 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.6–10.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.1%7.3–9 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.4%11.9–17.1 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.8%12.9–17 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.2%24.4–32.5 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.2–18.8 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.5%33.1–44.2 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.6%79.9–85.5 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.2%60–66.5 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%87.3–90.1 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.5–80.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%62.8–71.9 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%70.5–83.2 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.4–24.8 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31%26.4–35.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%20.5–27.6 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.9%14.7–19.2 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.3%12.4–16.2 | 14.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.4%8.3–10.7 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%8.3–10.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.8%14.9–18.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.8%26.2–33.8 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.5%13.7–17.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.7%12.3–15.3 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–4.9 | 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
Is Niagara a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Niagara is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #648 of 755 in New York. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Niagara?
CDC estimates 40.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 48%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Niagara?
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center in Niagara Falls, 3.7 miles in a straight line from Niagara’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Niagara have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.4–7.3%), 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 more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Niagara.
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.