Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Oswego is healthier than 74%
Oswego trails New York on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oswego. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oswego
COPD, depression and obesity run high in Oswego
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 6% across New York. 1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (22.2%), vs 17.5% across New York. Obesity is also above the state: 36.4%, vs 28.8% across New York. In all, Oswego runs above New York on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Oswego
56.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.5% across New York. Among those 65 and older, 17.2% have lost all their teeth (New York 12.8%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Oswego
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.3%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
Oswego is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Oswego is healthier than 41%. Against the 6,823 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 74%. 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 Oswego’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Oswego’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oswego is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns, #633 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 63% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 26%).
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). Oswego’s median household income is $53,172; among the 6,823 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 74%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Oswego is healthier than 16% of graded towns, against 41% nationally.
Out of every 100 Oswego adults…
Oswego runs above NY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oswego adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
3.4 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Care in and near Oswego
1 community health center in Oswego, 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 Oswego; ≈ 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 Oswego adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Oswego runs above New York.
1 in 3 Oswego 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.
16.3% of Oswego adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Oswego and the towns around it
Oswego’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego | C+ | 36.4% | 11.2% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Oswego | B | 34.8% | 10.1% | 14.2% | ZIP codes |
| Minetto | B | 34.7% | 10.1% | 14% | ZIP codes |
| Scriba | B | 34.5% | 9.9% | 13.8% | ZIP 13126 |
| SUNY Oswego | — | — | — | — | |
| Minetto | — | — | — | — |
SUNY Oswego and Minetto: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oswego adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oswego
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oswego is better than New York on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Oswego’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oswego | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.7%17.2–22.5 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.1–16.7 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.3–20.6 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.4%29.6–43.4 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.7–12.8 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%30.8–38.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%31.8–39.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.1%25–31.2 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.4–8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.4–9.4 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14.4–20.3 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%13–17.6 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.3%24.9–33.8 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.2–20.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%35–47.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.9%5.7–8 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%77–83.3 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.5%52.9–60 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.5–88 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.9–79 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.7%62.9–72.2 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%68.3–82.1 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%18.8–25.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%28–38.1 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%19.5–26.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.3%14–19.1 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.3%11.4–15.4 | 14.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.4–9.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%8.2–10.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.3%14.1–18.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31%27–35.1 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%13–17 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.2–16.9 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5–6.2 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 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 Oswego
Is Oswego a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oswego is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #633 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 Oswego?
CDC estimates 36.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.6% and 43.4%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oswego?
Oswego Hospital in Oswego, 10.8 miles in a straight line from Oswego’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oswego have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–8%), 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 Oswego 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 Oswego.
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.