Within New York, Watertown is healthier than 17% of graded towns
Watertown differs from New York on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 13601. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watertown
Depression is more common in Watertown
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (21.1%), vs 17.5% across New York. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18%, vs 15% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Watertown
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.7%), vs 11.3% 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 Watertown’s likely range; Watertown’s figures come from ZIP code 13601, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Watertown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watertown is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns, #625 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 62% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 26%).
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). Watertown’s median household income is $69,809; among the 10,500 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Where Watertown compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 33.7% (U.S. 37.1%).
How Watertown adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Watertown runs above New York.
1 in 3 Watertown 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
3.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Watertown adults…
Watertown runs below NY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Watertown
No hospital or community health center in Watertown 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 Watertown; ≈ 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 Watertown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17% of Watertown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Watertown and the towns around it
Watertown’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | C+ | 39.3% | 11.3% | 15.7% | ZIP 13601 |
| Watertown | C | 39.8% | 11.4% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Glen Park | — | — | — | — | |
| Brownville | B | 38.5% | 11.5% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Rutland | C+ | 39.5% | 11.2% | 15.6% | ZIP codes |
| Hounsfield | B | 37.8% | 10.8% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| Le Ray | B+ | 35.5% | 6.7% | 12.2% | ZIP codes |
| Pamelia | B− | 38.7% | 10.4% | 15.2% | ZIP codes |
Glen Park: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watertown adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Watertown
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Watertown is better than New York on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Watertown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Watertown | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.2%17–21.5 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.7–15.9 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.2–20 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.3%34.4–44.5 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.3%10–12.8 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.1%30–36.4 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.7%30.4–37 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 27.9%25.3–30.6 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.7–9.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.4 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8%7.2–8.9 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12.3–17.6 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.7%13.8–17.8 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.7%24.3–31.6 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%16.1–21.8 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42%37.6–46.7 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.4%6.4–8.5 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%77.3–82.9 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.3%57.1–63.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.5–87.7 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.1%72.4–77.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67%62.9–71.1 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.9%68.4–80.9 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.4–24.2 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%28.1–36.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%20.8–27.4 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.7%14.5–19.1 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12.4–16.2 | 14.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%8–10.3 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.4%8.3–10.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17%14.9–19.2 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.8%27.6–34.5 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.2%12.7–16 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%13.3–16.4 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5–6 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.4–10.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 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 Watertown
Is Watertown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watertown is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #625 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Watertown?
CDC estimates 39.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.4% and 44.5%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Watertown?
Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Watertown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Watertown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–8.5%), 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 Watertown more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Watertown.
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.