Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Fairfax is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Fairfax differs from Vermont on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 05454, 05444. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fairfax
COPD and stroke are less common in Fairfax
Fairfax runs below Vermont on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.9% vs 6.5%), stroke (2.5% vs 3.3%) and heart disease (4.9% vs 6.3%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (Vermont 21%). Conditions ↓
Obesity runs high in Fairfax
1 in 3 adults have obesity (34.2%), vs 28.6% across Vermont. Conditions ↓
Fairfax has a community health center but no hospital
The Richford Health Center is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Northwestern Medical Center in Saint Albans, 8.1 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 Vermont figure falls outside Fairfax’s likely range; Fairfax’s figures come from ZIP codes 05454, 05444, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Fairfax’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairfax is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #23 of 71 in Vermont. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 64%.
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). Fairfax’s median household income is $128,963; among the 4,661 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($97K–$161K), it’s healthier than 77%, about where its income would put it.
Most Vermont towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Fairfax is healthier than 69% of graded towns, against 91% nationally.
Out of every 100 Fairfax adults…
Fairfax runs below VT on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Fairfax residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Vermont. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Fairfax
1 community health center in Fairfax, 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 Fairfax; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Vermont
Share of adults, with the Vermont figure marked.
8.9 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Fairfax adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
How Fairfax adults are doing
About the same as Vermont on each measure.
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.
8.8% of Fairfax adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Fairfax and the towns around it
Fairfax’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax | A | 34.2% | 7.4% | 10% | ZIP codes |
| Cambridge | A | 30% | 7.3% | 11.1% | ZIP codes |
| Westford | A+ | 23.5% | 7.1% | 8.6% | ZIP codes |
| Georgia | A− | 34.1% | 8.7% | 12.3% | ZIP codes |
| Fletcher | A | 32.3% | 7.8% | 10.7% | ZIP codes |
| Milton | A | 27.7% | 7.9% | 12% | ZIP 05468 |
| Fairfield | A− | 36% | 9.3% | 12% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fairfax adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fairfax
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fairfax is better than Vermont on 11 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside Fairfax’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fairfax | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.6%9.8–13.5 | 14.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.9%9.4–12.4 | 12.5% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.4–17.4 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.2%29.2–38.7 | 28.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 8.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29%26.1–31.9 | 31.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.5%27.5–33.4 | 32.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.8%22.2–27.2 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.1 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.4 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.9%4.1–5.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.2–2.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.6%5.4–7.9 | 10.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%8–12.1 | 11.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 16.2%13.3–19 | 18.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.2%16.5–22 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.7%27.9–35.6 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.9%3.9–6.3 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.3%72–78.3 | 76.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.2%70.4–75.7 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.2–89 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.7%69.4–75.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.5%69–75.8 | 69.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.4%70.7–81.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21.6–27.5 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.8%19.1–24.5 | 22% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.7%6.9–8.7 | 9.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7.5–9.7 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 11.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.7%18.6–24.5 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.5%7.2–9.9 | 11% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.2%9.5–12.9 | 12.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.4 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.9%2.6–3.3 | 4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.4%4.7–6.3 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 3.1% | 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 Vermont figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Fairfax
Is Fairfax a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairfax is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #23 of 71 in Vermont. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 77%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fairfax?
CDC estimates 34.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 38.7%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fairfax?
Northwestern Medical Center in Saint Albans, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Fairfax’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fairfax have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–6.3%), against 6% across Vermont.
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 Fairfax more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fairfax.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Vermont 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.