Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0Within New York, Walden is healthier than 35% of graded towns
Walden differs from New York on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Walden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Walden
Dental care lags in Walden
57.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.5% across New York. Among those 65 and older, 17.6% have lost all their teeth (New York 12.8%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Walden
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (13.8%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
Walden has a community health center but no hospital
Sun River Health is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall in Newburgh, 9.8 miles away. 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 Walden’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Walden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walden is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #493 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 70% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). Walden’s median household income is $87,487; among the 10,205 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($66K–$109K), it’s healthier than 48%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Walden 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.
2.1 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Walden
1 community health center in Walden, 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 Walden; ≈ 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 Walden adults…
Walden runs below NY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Walden residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
How Walden adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Walden runs above New York.
1 in 3 Walden 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.
16.3% of Walden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Walden and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden | B | 33.5% | 10.8% | 13.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Walden adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Walden
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Walden is better than New York on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Walden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Walden | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.3%16.8–22 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.2–15.6 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.7–19.8 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.5%28.1–39.1 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.4–12.3 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.6%27.3–34 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.1%29.6–36.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.7%21.1–26.4 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.5 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%4.9–6.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.6%5.8–7.6 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.6%14.3–21.2 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.8%11.7–16.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27%23.1–31.1 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%13.2–18.5 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.2%34.9–45.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.6–10.9 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%75–81.3 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.3%53.7–60.7 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.4–88.8 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.8%70.8–76.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%59.6–69 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%69.9–83.1 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.6%16.7–22.5 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.6%28.4–37 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%22–28.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.4%15.8–21.2 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.7%14.6–19.1 | 14.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.6%8.4–11 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.8–11.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.3%14.1–19 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.9%24.3–31.6 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.8%11.1–14.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%12.4–16.1 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.7–6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.4–9.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.6–4.5 | 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 Walden
Is Walden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walden is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #493 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 48%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Walden?
CDC estimates 33.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.1% and 39.1%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Walden?
Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall in Newburgh, 9.8 miles in a straight line from Walden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Walden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–10.9%), 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 Walden more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Walden.
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.