Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Syracuse is healthier than 51%
Syracuse differs from New York on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Syracuse. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Syracuse
Every town around Syracuse scores healthier
All six graded neighbors are ahead of Syracuse’s C−, from East Syracuse (B) to Onondaga (A). Around town ↓
Syracuse is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Syracuse is healthier than 19%. Against the 4,948 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 51%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Syracuse
1 in 6 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (15.4%), about twice the New York rate. Food insecurity (28.7% vs 17.2%) and no reliable transportation (15.8% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 29.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Syracuse
53.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.5% across New York. Among those 65 and older, 22.2% have lost all their teeth (New York 12.8%). Checkups ↓
Syracuse has four hospitals within its borders
4 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Syracuse. Getting care ↓
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 Syracuse’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Syracuse’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Syracuse is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns, #732 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 40% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Syracuse’s median household income is $47,819; among the 4,948 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), 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 Syracuse is healthier than 3% of graded towns, against 19% nationally.
Where Syracuse compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.8% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.1% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 144,896 residents, Syracuse is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Syracuse and the towns around it
Syracuse’s Health Grade ranks 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | C− | 41.5% | 12.7% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Onondaga | A | 34% | 9.9% | 9.7% | ZIP codes |
| Geddes | B+ | 36% | 10.5% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| DeWitt | A− | 34.5% | 10.3% | 10.5% | ZIP codes |
| DeWitt | — | — | — | — | |
| Salina | B | 36.8% | 10.9% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Solvay | B | 37.7% | 10.4% | 13.8% | CDC place |
| Lyncourt | — | — | — | — |
DeWitt and Lyncourt: 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.
29.5% of Syracuse adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Keeping up with care
Share of Syracuse adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Care in and near Syracuse
4 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Syracuse.
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 Syracuse; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Syracuse adults…
Syracuse runs below NY on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
25 miles of trails across 54 parks and preserves
How Syracuse adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Syracuse runs above New York.
2 in 5 Syracuse 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 Syracuse adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Syracuse
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Syracuse is better than New York on 2 and worse on 20; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Syracuse’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Syracuse | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.9%21.6–26.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.9–17.1 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.8–22.9 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.5%37–46.3 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.7%11.3–14.2 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%32.9–38.9 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.8%29–34.9 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.7%21.6–26.1 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.3–14 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.1%5.6–6.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.2%7.4–9 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.7–4.2 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.2%19–25.6 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.3–18.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.7%27.4–34.3 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%13.1–17.9 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.8%37.3–46.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 7.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%77.4–82.8 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.4%50.1–56.5 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.5%80.7–84.2 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.6%71.3–75.9 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.9%60.7–68.8 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%71.9–83.1 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20.6–26.3 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 38%33.6–42.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.2%24.8–31.7 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.7%25.9–31.5 | 17.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.2%19.9–24.6 | 14.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.4%13.8–17.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.8%14.3–17.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 29.5%27.2–32.1 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.6%31.3–38 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.7–18 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.1%16.4–19.9 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8%7.4–8.7 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.4%11.3–13.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.4–6.2 | 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 Syracuse
Is Syracuse a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Syracuse is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #732 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 Syracuse?
CDC estimates 41.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 37% and 46.3%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Syracuse?
University Hospital S U N Y Health Science Center in Syracuse, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Syracuse’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Syracuse have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–10.9%), 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 Syracuse 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 Syracuse.
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.