Lake Mohonk Mountain House Complex · Photo: Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Rochester is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Rochester differs from New York on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12446, 12404, 12440, 12458. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rochester
Cancer and COPD run high in Rochester
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.4%), vs 7.7% across New York. 1 in 14 adults have COPD (7%), vs 6% across New York. In all, Rochester runs above New York on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Rochester adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Rochester’s likely range; Rochester’s figures come from ZIP codes 12446, 12404, 12440, 12458, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Rochester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rochester is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, #336 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 81% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 59%.
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). Rochester’s median household income is $86,691; among the 10,271 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($65K–$108K), it’s healthier than 77%, about where its income would put it.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Rochester is healthier than 56% of graded towns, against 74% nationally.
Out of every 100 Rochester adults…
Rochester runs above NY on 4 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.
11.3% of Rochester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Care in and near Rochester
No hospital or community health center in Rochester 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 Rochester; ≈ 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.
83 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Rochester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Rochester adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Rochester does better than New York.
3 in 10 Rochester 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.
Rochester and the towns around it
Rochester’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | B+ | 30.8% | 10.7% | 12.7% | ZIP codes |
| Gardiner | B− | 33% | 12.3% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Marbletown | A− | 29.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | ZIP codes |
| Wawarsing | B− | 33.2% | 12.4% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Olive | A− | 28.9% | 11% | 10.8% | ZIP codes |
| Denning | — | — | — | — | |
| New Paltz | A− | 29.1% | 9.8% | 10.8% | ZIP codes |
Denning: 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 Rochester adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rochester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rochester is better than New York on 6 and worse on 4; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Rochester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rochester | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.8%14.5–19.2 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.9–15.2 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.7–17.4 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.8%25.5–36.6 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.2–12.2 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%33–40.4 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.9–41.6 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.7%24.7–30.8 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–11.9 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.5–10.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7%6.1–7.9 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12%9.8–14.3 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%10.7–14.8 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.4%19.9–27.3 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%13.1–18.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%31.7–42.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.2%5.1–7.4 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%78.3–83.9 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.3%60.9–67.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.9%88.5–91.2 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74–79.8 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67%62.4–71 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%70.3–82.7 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%17.1–23 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.8%25.3–34.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%19.4–26.2 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.6%10.6–14.9 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%9.9–13.5 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.9–7.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.3%6.3–8.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.3%9.4–13.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26%22.6–29.5 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.8%11.1–14.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%10.7–13.7 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4–5 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.6–8.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 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 Rochester
Is Rochester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rochester is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #336 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 77%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rochester?
CDC estimates 30.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.5% and 36.6%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rochester?
Ellenville Regional Hospital in Ellenville, 7.9 miles in a straight line from Rochester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Rochester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–7.4%), 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 Rochester more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Rochester.
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.