Photo: Mitchazenia · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Wales is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Wales differs from New York on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 14139, 14052. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wales
Cancer and arthritis run high in Wales
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.7% across New York. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (28.5%), vs 24% across New York. In all, Wales runs above New York on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Wales keeps up with checkups
It beats New York on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (71.4% vs 63.5%) and cholesterol checks (91.3% vs 89.2%). Checkups ↓
Wales is an active town
Only 20.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. The town has 23 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves. 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 Wales’ likely range; Wales’ figures come from ZIP codes 14139, 14052, 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 Wales’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wales is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #137 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 91% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 82%.
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). Wales’ median household income is $88,590; among the 10,126 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($66K–$111K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Wales adults…
Wales runs below NY on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wales 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.
23 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Wales
No hospital or community health center in Wales 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 Wales; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Wales adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Wales runs above New York.
3 in 10 Wales 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.
6.8% of Wales adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Wales and the towns around it
Wales’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wales adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wales
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wales is better than New York on 15 and worse on 3; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Wales’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wales | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.5%11.6–15.5 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.9%10.4–13.5 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.8–16.2 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30%25.8–34.1 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.1%7.8–10.4 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.4%28.2–34.4 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.4%35–41.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.5%25.6–31.1 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.3 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.2–11.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.3–6.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6%5.1–6.9 | 6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.6–3.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.6–8.4 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.6%8.8–12.5 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.3%17.1–23.4 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%16.1–21.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%30.8–38 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4%3.2–4.9 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.4%80.8–85.7 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.4%68.8–73.8 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.3%89.9–92.4 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%76.4–82 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.5%69.1–75.7 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.6%77–85.7 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.8–23.2 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 28.4%24.7–32.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%17.8–23.8 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8%6.5–9.6 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.8%6.5–9.3 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.8%4.1–5.7 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5%4.3–5.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.8%5.4–8.2 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.7%18.7–24.5 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.7%9.1–12.3 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%3–3.7 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.2%5.4–7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.5–3.2 | 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 Wales
Is Wales a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wales is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #137 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wales?
CDC estimates 30% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.8% and 34.1%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wales?
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo in Buffalo, 16.7 miles in a straight line from Wales’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wales have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.2–4.9%), 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 Wales 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 Wales.
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.