New York State Barge Canal · Photo: Bill Blevins · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Van Buren is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns
Van Buren differs from New York on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 13027, 13164, 13112, 13209. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Van Buren
Cancer, depression and obesity run high in Van Buren
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10%), vs 7.7% across New York. 22.4% of adults have been diagnosed with depression, vs 17.5% across New York. Obesity is also above the state: 35.8%, vs 28.8% across New York. In all, Van Buren runs above New York on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Van Buren adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Van Buren is an active town
Only 20.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. Habits ↓
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 Van Buren’s likely range; Van Buren’s figures come from ZIP codes 13027, 13164, 13112, 13209, 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 Van Buren’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Van Buren is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #289 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 86% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 53%.
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). Van Buren’s median household income is $73,779; among the 10,829 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 93%, about where its income would put it.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Van Buren is healthier than 62% of graded towns, against 79% nationally.
Out of every 100 Van Buren adults…
Van Buren runs below NY on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9% of Van Buren adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Van Buren
No hospital or community health center in Van Buren 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 Van Buren; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Van Buren adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Van Buren adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Van Buren runs above New York.
1 in 3 Van Buren 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.
Van Buren and the towns around it
Van Buren’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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Van Buren adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Van Buren
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Van Buren is better than New York on 12 and worse on 4; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Van Buren’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Van Buren | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.6%12.8–16.8 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.5 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.8%31.3–40.6 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10%8.7–11.3 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.8%31.7–38.1 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%33–39.6 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.6%25–30.4 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%10–12.4 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.1–10.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–6.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.4%7.6–11.3 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%9.5–13.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.6%17.6–23.8 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.8–20.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%30.3–38.9 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.6%3.9–5.6 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%79.6–84.7 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.6%67.7–73.3 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.3%89–91.6 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.5–80.8 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.7%67.8–75.2 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.5%74.8–85.2 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.4%19.7–25.4 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%27–35.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.4%18.5–24.6 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.1%8.4–11.9 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.4%8–11 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%5–6.7 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6%5.3–6.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9%7.5–10.7 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.8%22.8–29.2 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.6–13.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.4%10–12.8 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.2–7.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.9–3.6 | 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 Van Buren
Is Van Buren a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Van Buren is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #289 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Van Buren?
CDC estimates 35.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.3% and 40.6%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Van Buren?
St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, 11.3 miles in a straight line from Van Buren’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Van Buren have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–5.6%), 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren.
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.