Photo: Doug Kerr from now in Binghamton, NY · CC BY-SA 2.0Within New York, Waterloo is healthier than 26% of graded towns
Waterloo differs from New York on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 13165, 14456. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waterloo
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Waterloo
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6% across New York. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.7% across New York. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 6.1% across New York. In all, Waterloo runs above New York on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and COPD, cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Waterloo
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
Waterloo is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Waterloo is healthier than 49%. Against the 9,611 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 70%. Health Grade ↓
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 Waterloo’s likely range; Waterloo’s figures come from ZIP codes 13165, 14456, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Waterloo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waterloo is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #560 of 755 in New York. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 62% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 33%).
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). Waterloo’s median household income is $63,226; among the 9,611 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 70%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Waterloo compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 6.5% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Waterloo adults…
Waterloo runs above NY on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Waterloo is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Waterloo as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
2.6 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Waterloo
No hospital or community health center in Waterloo 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 Waterloo; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Waterloo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Waterloo adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Waterloo runs above New York.
1 in 3 Waterloo 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.
14% of Waterloo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Waterloo and the towns around it
Waterloo’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | B− | 34.6% | 11.7% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Fayette | B− | 34.1% | 11.3% | 14.7% | ZIP codes |
| Seneca Falls | B− | 34.5% | 11.3% | 15.3% | ZIP codes |
| Junius | C+ | 35.7% | 11.8% | 15.6% | ZIP codes |
| Waterloo | C+ | 35.7% | 12.4% | 15.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waterloo adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waterloo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waterloo is better than New York on 3 and worse on 8; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Waterloo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waterloo | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.4%17–22 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.3–16.8 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15–18.8 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.6%27.1–42.3 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.2–13.4 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.7%32.4–40.7 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%34–42.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.3%26.9–33.7 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.3–11.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7–8.6 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12.2–17.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%12.7–17.2 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.1%23.5–32.6 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.3–19.2 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%30.3–43.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.5–7.5 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.4%78.2–84.3 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.2%57.5–64.6 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.9%87.4–90.3 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%75.9–81.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%66.1–75 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%70.8–84.2 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.3–24.9 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.2%28.3–38.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24%20.6–27.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.6%12.4–16.8 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.3–13.8 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.5–8.5 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7–9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14%12.1–16.1 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.8%26.6–34.9 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.6–17.6 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12.1–15.4 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.2 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%8–10 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 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 Waterloo
Is Waterloo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waterloo is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #560 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 70%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waterloo?
CDC estimates 34.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.1% and 42.3%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waterloo?
Geneva General Hospital in Geneva, 4.9 miles in a straight line from Waterloo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waterloo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–7.5%), 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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo.
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.