Worcester Historic District · Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Worcester is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns
Worcester differs from New York on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12197, 12064, 12149, 12036. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Worcester
COPD, cancer and arthritis run high in Worcester
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6% across New York. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11%), vs 7.7% across New York. Arthritis is also above the state: 32.3%, vs 24% across New York. In all, Worcester runs above New York on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Worcester
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.5%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Worcester, and more people treating it
37.9% of adults have high blood pressure (New York 32.6%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Worcester’s likely range; Worcester’s figures come from ZIP codes 12197, 12064, 12149, 12036, 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 Worcester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Worcester is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 70% of U.S. towns); physical distress 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). Worcester’s median household income is $69,886; among the 10,520 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 67%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Worcester adults…
Worcester runs above NY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
1.9 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Worcester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Care in and near Worcester
No hospital or community health center in Worcester 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 Worcester; ≈ 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).
How Worcester adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Worcester does better than New York.
3 in 10 Worcester 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.
12.4% of Worcester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Worcester and the towns around it
Worcester’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | B− | 33.3% | 12.6% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Harpersfield | B− | 33.7% | 13% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Summit | B− | 33.9% | 12.9% | 14.9% | ZIP codes |
| Decatur | — | — | — | — | |
| Worcester | — | — | — | — | |
| Richmondville | B− | 33.8% | 11.6% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Maryland | B− | 32.3% | 12.1% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Westford | — | — | — | — |
Decatur and Westford: fewer than 1,000 residents. Worcester: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Worcester adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Worcester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Worcester is better than New York on 8 and worse on 9; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Worcester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Worcester | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19%16.5–21.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.5–17.3 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.3–18.1 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.3%27.8–39.2 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%10.9–14.4 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.9%34.3–41.8 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.6%37.9–45.6 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 32.3%29.2–35.6 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10.2–12.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%10–12.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.3–9.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.5–10 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.6–4.5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.6–15.6 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%12.2–17.1 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.2%22.4–30.7 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%13–18.2 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%31.8–42.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4.6–6.9 | 7.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%77.8–83.6 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.7%59.5–66.2 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.4%89–91.7 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%78.6–83.8 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.8%68.8–76.9 | 66.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.8%74.8–86.1 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.2%17.4–23.3 | 17.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.7%26.3–35.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%19.5–26.2 | 26.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.6%10.5–15.1 | 17.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.8%9.2–12.7 | 14.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%6–8 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.2–8.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.4%10.3–14.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4%25.8–33.7 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.5–18 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.8%11.3–14.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.5–5.7 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.3–9.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.9 | 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 Worcester
Is Worcester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Worcester is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 67%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Worcester?
CDC estimates 33.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.8% and 39.2%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Worcester?
Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown, 12.8 miles in a straight line from Worcester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Worcester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–6.9%), 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 Worcester 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 Worcester.
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.