Photo: Mwanner at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Saranac Lake is healthier than 85%
Saranac Lake differs from New York on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Saranac Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Saranac Lake
Depression is more common in Saranac Lake
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (22.7%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 16.9%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Saranac Lake
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (13.8%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
Saranac Lake is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Saranac Lake is healthier than 61%. Against the 9,399 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 85%. 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 Saranac Lake’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Saranac Lake’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Saranac Lake is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns, #452 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 77% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 36%).
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). Saranac Lake’s median household income is $61,967; among the 9,399 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 85%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Saranac Lake is healthier than 40% of graded towns, against 61% nationally.
How Saranac Lake adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Saranac Lake runs above New York.
1 in 3 Saranac Lake 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
8.2 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Saranac Lake adults…
Saranac Lake runs above NY on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Saranac Lake
No hospital or community health center in Saranac Lake 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 Saranac Lake; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Saranac Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.1% of Saranac Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Saranac Lake and the towns around it
Saranac Lake’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saranac Lake | B | 38% | 10.3% | 13.8% | CDC place |
| North Elba | B+ | 34.3% | 10.8% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| St. Armand | B | 37.1% | 10.8% | 13.2% | ZIP codes |
| Harrietstown | B− | 39.5% | 12.1% | 14.7% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Saranac Lake adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Saranac Lake
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Saranac Lake is better than New York on 4 and worse on 8; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Saranac Lake’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Saranac Lake | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.1%15–19.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12.2–15.3 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.3–18.7 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38%32.9–43.4 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.3%9–11.6 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.1%30.1–36.2 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%32.6–38.8 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.3%25.7–30.9 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.4–12.6 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.4–9.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.2%11.3–15.1 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.8%11.7–16 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.4%21.1–27.9 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15.7–20.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.9%31.6–40.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.6%4.6–6.7 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%76.5–81.6 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.7%59.9–65.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%86.9–89.7 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73.5–78.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.4%65.8–72.7 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%71.8–81.7 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%20.1–25.5 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%27.8–35.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%19.5–25.1 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13%11–15.3 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.6–12.9 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.2–8.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.7–8.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.1%10.2–14.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.3%25.2–31.6 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.4%11.7–15.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.2%11.7–14.7 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4.1–5.1 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 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 Saranac Lake
Is Saranac Lake a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Saranac Lake is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #452 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 Saranac Lake?
CDC estimates 38% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 43.4%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Saranac Lake?
Adirondack Medical Center - Saranac Lake in Saranac Lake, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Saranac Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Saranac Lake have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–6.7%), 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 Saranac Lake 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 Saranac Lake.
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.