Photo: Patrick Ashley · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Rochester is healthier than 51%
Rochester differs from New York on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rochester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rochester
Every town around Rochester scores healthier
All five graded neighbors are ahead of Rochester’s C−, from Gates (B) to Brighton (A). Around town ↓
Rochester is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Rochester is healthier than 18%. Against the 4,731 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 51%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Rochester
1 in 6 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (16.7%), about twice the New York rate. Food insecurity (29.2% vs 17.2%) and no reliable transportation (15.7% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 30.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Rochester
53.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.5% across New York. Among those 65 and older, 22.3% have lost all their teeth (New York 12.8%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and high cholesterol are less common in Rochester
Rochester runs below New York on cancer (5.7% vs 7.7%) and high cholesterol (31.4% vs 37.7%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%). Conditions ↓
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; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Rochester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rochester is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #736 of 755 in New York. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 36% of U.S. towns); no exercise 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). Rochester’s median household income is $47,213; among the 4,731 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 51%, 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 2% of graded towns, against 18% nationally.
Where Rochester compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.4% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 206,108 residents, Rochester is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Rochester and the towns around it
Rochester’s Health Grade ranks 6th 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 | C− | 38% | 14.3% | 16.6% | CDC place |
| Irondequoit | — | — | — | — | |
| Irondequoit | B+ | 32.4% | 11.7% | 12.2% | ZIP codes |
| Greece | B+ | 31.5% | 11.6% | 12.6% | ZIP codes |
| Brighton | — | — | — | — | |
| Brighton | A | 26.5% | 8.6% | 8.4% | ZIP codes |
| Chili | A− | 29.5% | 10% | 10.8% | ZIP codes |
| Gates | B | 32.2% | 11.9% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
Irondequoit and Brighton: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
30.5% of Rochester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rochester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Out of every 100 Rochester adults…
Rochester runs below NY on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Rochester
3 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Rochester, 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 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.
50 miles of trails across 62 parks and preserves
How Rochester adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Rochester runs above New York.
4 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rochester adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory 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 2 and worse on 21; 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 | 24.8%22.4–27.2 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.2–17.5 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.9–20.8 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38%33.3–42.8 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.8–16 | 11.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.6%32.6–38.7 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.4%28.3–34.5 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.9%22.5–27.4 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.9–13.6 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.8–7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.3%19.1–25.6 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.6%14.7–18.5 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.4%30.8–38 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.9–18.9 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.3%38.2–46.4 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 7.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%75–80.8 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.3%50.2–56.2 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%83.1–86.4 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%71.5–76.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%59.7–67.8 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%70.7–81.7 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%19.5–25.3 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%32.7–41.5 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.7%25.1–32 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 29.2%26.4–31.8 | 17.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.2%21.7–26.5 | 14.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.7%14.9–18.4 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.7%14.1–17.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.5%28–32.8 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.6%30.3–37 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.9–18.3 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%15.1–18.5 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.3%7.6–8.9 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%10.2–12.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.6–6.5 | 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 Rochester
Is Rochester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rochester is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #736 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 Rochester?
CDC estimates 38% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.3% and 42.8%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rochester?
Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Rochester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rochester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–12.2%), 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 D to C+.
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.