Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Sterling is healthier than 68%
Sterling differs from New York on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 13156, 13111, 13143, 13126. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sterling
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Sterling
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 6% across New York. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 7.7% across New York. Heart disease is also above the state: 8%, vs 6.1% across New York. In all, Sterling runs above New York on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and COPD, cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Sterling
58.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.5% across New York. Among those 65 and older, 18.5% have lost all their teeth (New York 12.8%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Sterling
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.5%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
Sterling is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Sterling is healthier than 44%. Against the 8,840 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 68%. 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 Sterling’s likely range; Sterling’s figures come from ZIP codes 13156, 13111, 13143, 13126, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Sterling’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sterling is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #603 of 755 in New York. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 56% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 30%).
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). Sterling’s median household income is $59,750; among the 8,840 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 68%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Sterling is healthier than 20% of graded towns, against 44% nationally.
Where Sterling compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 5.8% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Sterling adults…
Sterling runs above NY on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Sterling is an older town: 27% 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 Sterling as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sterling 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.
25 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Sterling
No hospital or community health center in Sterling 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 Sterling; ≈ 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 Sterling adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Sterling runs above New York.
1 in 3 Sterling 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.
13.5% of Sterling adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Sterling and the towns around it
Sterling’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | C+ | 35.9% | 12.1% | 15.5% | ZIP codes |
| Fair Haven | — | — | — | — | |
| Wolcott | C− | 39.6% | 12.7% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
| Hannibal | C | 37.7% | 11.8% | 17.8% | ZIP codes |
| Oswego | B | 34.8% | 10.1% | 14.2% | ZIP codes |
| Victory | C | 38% | 12% | 18% | ZIP codes |
| Red Creek | — | — | — | — |
Fair Haven: not graded. Red Creek: 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 Sterling adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sterling
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sterling is better than New York on 3 and worse on 12; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Sterling’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sterling | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%17.1–22.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.6–17.4 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.9–18.7 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.9%29.3–42.8 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.1%10.5–13.8 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%33.5–41.3 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%36.2–44.4 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.1%27.8–34.4 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–8.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9%7.8–10.3 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.5%15.5–21.9 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5%13.2–18.3 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.9%23.7–32.5 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.5–19 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%32.9–44.3 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.8%4.7–7.2 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%78.7–84.4 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.4%55–61.9 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.3%87.8–90.7 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76–81.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.2%64.8–73.5 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%69.5–81.9 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.4–24.5 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%28.6–38 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%20.3–27.1 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14%11.7–16.7 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.7–13.4 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.2–8.3 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.7–8.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.5%11.3–16.1 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32%27.8–36.3 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16%13.8–18.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.7%12–15.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%7.8–10.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.9 | 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 Sterling
Is Sterling a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sterling is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #603 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 Sterling?
CDC estimates 35.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.3% and 42.8%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sterling?
Oswego Hospital in Oswego, 14.0 miles in a straight line from Sterling’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Sterling have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–7.2%), 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 Sterling more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sterling.
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.