Sacandaga Railroad Station · Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Northampton is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns
Northampton differs from New York on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12134, 12117. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Northampton
COPD, arthritis and heart disease run high in Northampton
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.8%), vs 6% across New York. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (34.7%), vs 24% across New York. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 6.1% across New York. In all, Northampton runs above New York on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and COPD, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Northampton
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.9%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Northampton, and more people treating it
41% of adults have high blood pressure (New York 32.6%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Northampton’s likely range; Northampton’s figures come from ZIP codes 12134, 12117, 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 Northampton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northampton is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 61% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Northampton’s median household income is $72,065; among the 10,672 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Northampton compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 6% (U.S. 11%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.3% (U.S. 76.5%); colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75), 70.6% (U.S. 65.5%).
Out of every 100 Northampton adults…
Northampton runs above NY on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Northampton is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Northampton as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
4.4 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Northampton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Care in and near Northampton
No hospital or community health center in Northampton 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 Northampton; ≈ 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).
How Northampton adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Northampton runs above New York.
1 in 3 Northampton 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14% of Northampton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Northampton and the towns around it
Northampton’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton | C+ | 35.8% | 13.3% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Edinburg | B− | 35.4% | 13.3% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Mayfield | C | 36.9% | 13% | 17.3% | ZIP codes |
| Broadalbin | B | 35.4% | 11.3% | 14.2% | ZIP codes |
| Hope | — | — | — | — | |
| Benson | — | — | — | — |
Hope and Benson: 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 Northampton adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Northampton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Northampton is better than New York on 7 and worse on 15; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Northampton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Northampton | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%18–22.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.5–17.7 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.9–18 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.8%31.2–40.7 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.9–14.7 | 11.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41%37.9–44 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%38.2–44.5 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 34.7%32–37.2 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.6–12.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%10.3–12 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%8–9.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.8%8.6–10.9 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–4.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.7%13.4–18.1 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.9%13.8–18 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.3%24.8–31.9 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%13.2–17.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.1%32.8–41.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%5–7.1 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%79.9–84.3 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%57.3–63 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.1%88.9–91.3 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%79.2–83.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.6%67.2–73.9 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%72.8–82.5 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.8–23.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31%27.2–34.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.7–25.3 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.4%12.3–16.7 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.9–13 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.3%6.4–8.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.7–8.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14%11.9–16.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%29.9–36.7 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.2%15.2–19.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%12.2–15.1 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6.1 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 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 Northampton
Is Northampton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northampton is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Northampton?
CDC estimates 35.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.2% and 40.7%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Northampton?
Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville, 10.1 miles in a straight line from Northampton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Northampton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–7.1%), 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 Northampton 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 Northampton.
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.