Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Walkerma assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Norwood is healthier than 59%
Norwood differs from New York on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Norwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norwood
COPD, obesity and cancer run high in Norwood
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.5%), vs 6% across New York. 42.7% of adults have obesity, vs 28.8% across New York. Cancer is also above the state: 10.7%, vs 7.7% across New York. In all, Norwood runs above New York on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and COPD and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Norwood
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.6%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Norwood, and more people treating it
40.2% of adults have high blood pressure (New York 32.6%), but 80% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Norwood is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Norwood is healthier than 31%. Against the 7,229 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 59%. 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 Norwood’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Norwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwood is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 51% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Norwood’s median household income is $54,375; among the 7,229 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 59%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Norwood compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 5.9% (U.S. 11%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Norwood adults…
Norwood runs above NY on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Norwood is an older town: 26% 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 Norwood as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Norwood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Care in and near Norwood
No hospital or community health center in Norwood 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 Norwood; ≈ 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 Norwood adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Norwood runs above New York.
1 in 3 Norwood 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.
14.6% of Norwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Norwood and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwood | C | 42.7% | 13.2% | 15.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Norwood adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norwood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norwood is better than New York on 4 and worse on 12; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Norwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norwood | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.5%16.6–22.8 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.4–17.7 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%14.9–19.1 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.7%37.5–47.8 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.3–15.1 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%36.6–43.7 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%36.2–43.1 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.2%30.1–36.3 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.6–11.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.1–9.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.5%7.9–11.1 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.6%13.8–19.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%12.8–18.6 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.9%24.4–33.6 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.5–19.9 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7%30.4–39.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.9%4.6–7.5 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 83%80.3–85.5 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.1%60–66.2 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.1%87.3–90.8 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.4–82.5 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.7%65.7–73.7 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.6%72.8–83.7 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%20.1–26.2 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.5%28.1–36.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%19.6–26.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.7%11–16.7 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.4–13.5 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.3%6.1–8.6 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.5–9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.6%11.7–17.7 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.2%28–36.5 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%13.4–18.6 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%11.8–15.9 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.8–10.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.7–5.1 | 3.8% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Norwood
Is Norwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwood is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norwood?
CDC estimates 42.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.5% and 47.8%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norwood?
Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam, 5.1 miles in a straight line from Norwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–7.5%), 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 Norwood 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 Norwood.
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.