Photo: Jsh99j3 · CC BY-SA 3.0Within New York, Southport is healthier than 20% of graded towns
Southport differs from New York on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 14871, 14904, 14894. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Southport
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Southport
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6% across New York. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.9%), vs 7.7% across New York. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.6%, vs 6.1% across New York. In all, Southport runs above New York on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and COPD, cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Southport
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Southport, and more people treating it
40% of adults have high blood pressure (New York 32.6%), but 80.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Southport is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Southport is healthier than 43%. Against the 9,567 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 63%. 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 Southport’s likely range; Southport’s figures come from ZIP codes 14871, 14904, 14894, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Southport’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Southport is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns, #607 of 755 in New York. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 78% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Southport’s median household income is $62,813; among the 9,567 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 63%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Southport compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 6.1% (U.S. 11%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Southport adults…
Southport runs above NY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Southport 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 Southport as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
1.3 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Southport adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Care in and near Southport
1 community health center in Southport, 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 Southport; ≈ 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 Southport adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Southport runs above New York.
1 in 3 Southport 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.
14.8% of Southport adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Southport and the towns around it
Southport’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southport | C+ | 31.6% | 12.8% | 16% | ZIP codes |
| Southport | — | — | — | — | |
| Elmira | C− | 34.5% | 13.2% | 19.4% | ZIP codes |
| Ashland | C | 34.2% | 12.1% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
| Elmira | C− | 35.2% | 13.2% | 20.3% | CDC place |
| West Elmira | — | — | — | — | |
| Big Flats | B+ | 29.6% | 10.6% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Caton | B+ | 32.9% | 10.7% | 13.5% | ZIP codes |
Southport and West Elmira: 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 Southport adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Southport
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Southport is better than New York on 3 and worse on 9; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Southport’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Southport | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17.4–23.2 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.8–17.8 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.8–18.8 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.6%25.8–38.1 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11.1–14.6 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40%36.1–43.9 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.7%36.8–44.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.5%29.2–35.9 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10.1–12.6 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.9–11.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.6–9.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.2–11 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–4.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12.2–17.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%13.5–18.5 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.2%23.6–32.7 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.6–17.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%29–40.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%4.9–7.4 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.4%79.6–84.9 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.9%57.5–64.3 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.7%88.3–91 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.9%78.3–83.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.8%65.5–74 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%70.2–83.1 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.4%18.6–24.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.1%27–37.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.6%20.1–27.2 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%12.2–17.6 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%9.7–13.5 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%6.8–9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.8%12.3–17.4 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.2%27–35.4 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.8%14.3–19 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%11.9–15.4 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7–8.9 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 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 Southport
Is Southport a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Southport is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #607 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 63%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Southport?
CDC estimates 31.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.8% and 38.1%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Southport?
Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, 4.3 miles in a straight line from Southport’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Southport have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.4%), 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 Southport 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 Southport.
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.