Whiteside, Barnett and Co. Agricultural Works · Photo: LtPowers · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Sweden is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns
Sweden differs from New York on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 14420, 14559, 14416, 14428. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sweden
Depression is more common in Sweden
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (24.6%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 17.6%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Sweden doesn’t win on
19.2% of adults binge drink, vs 16.3% across New York. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Sweden
Sweden runs below New York on diabetes (9.2% vs 11.5%) and stroke (2.8% vs 3.4%). 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 Sweden’s likely range; Sweden’s figures come from ZIP codes 14420, 14559, 14416, 14428, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Sweden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sweden is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns, #319 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 89% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 40%).
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). Sweden’s median household income is $75,711; among the 10,845 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 89%, about where its income would put it.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Sweden is healthier than 58% of graded towns, against 76% nationally.
How Sweden adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Sweden runs above New York.
1 in 3 Sweden 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.
25 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Sweden adults…
Sweden runs below NY on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Sweden
No hospital or community health center in Sweden 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 Sweden; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sweden 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.
11.6% of Sweden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Sweden and the towns around it
Sweden’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | A− | 29.5% | 9.2% | 11.6% | ZIP codes |
| Ogden | A− | 30% | 10.4% | 11.4% | ZIP codes |
| Clarkson | B+ | 29.8% | 9.4% | 11.8% | ZIP codes |
| Bergen | A− | 29.2% | 10.3% | 12.1% | ZIP 14416 |
| Clarendon | B | 31.8% | 11% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
| Clarkson | — | — | — | — | |
| Brockport | A− | 28% | 6.8% | 10.5% | CDC place |
Clarkson: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sweden adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sweden
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sweden is better than New York on 11 and worse on 6; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Sweden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sweden | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.6%13.7–17.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.4–14.4 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.7–19.6 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.5%25.2–34.1 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.2%8–10.5 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.6%26.7–32.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.1%29–35.2 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.8%22.3–27.3 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5–6.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6%5.3–6.8 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.2%9.1–13.4 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.6%10.1–13.4 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24%20.8–27.4 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.2%16.5–22.2 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%31–38.9 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.7–6.6 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.5%74.5–80.5 | 80.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66%63–68.8 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%84–87.3 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.9%71.3–76.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.3%67.7–74.8 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.3%72.7–83.1 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%21.6–27.8 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%30.2–38.7 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%19.7–25.8 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.9%10.9–14.9 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.5–12.7 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.9–7.8 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.6%9.9–13.4 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.9%24.7–31.3 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%12.4–15.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.8–4.7 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.1–8.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Sweden
Is Sweden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sweden is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #319 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sweden?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.2% and 34.1%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sweden?
Unity Hospital in Rochester, 11.4 miles in a straight line from Sweden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Sweden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–6.6%), 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 Sweden more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sweden.
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.