Bridge 6 · Photo: Mfwills · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Vermont, Johnson is healthier than 41% of graded towns
Johnson differs from Vermont on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 05656. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Johnson
Vermont sets a high bar
Johnson is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, but only 41% of the 71 Vermont towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Johnson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Johnson is healthier than 79%. Against the 7,524 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 98%. Health Grade ↓
Johnson is behind on routine checkups
It trails Vermont on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (69.8% vs 76.1%), dentist visits (65.1% vs 69.2%) and cholesterol checks (80.9% vs 85.9%). Checkups ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Johnson doesn’t win on
19.8% of adults binge drink, vs 16.6% across Vermont. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Johnson
Johnson runs below Vermont on six chronic conditions, most of all cancer (7.3% vs 9.9%), heart disease (5.1% vs 6.3%) and high blood pressure (25.5% vs 31.4%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Vermont 21%). Conditions ↓
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 Johnson’s likely range; Johnson’s figures come from ZIP code 05656, 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 Johnson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Johnson is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #42 of 71 in Vermont. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Johnson’s median household income is $55,346; among the 7,524 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 98%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Johnson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
Everyday habits, side by side with Vermont
Share of adults, with the Vermont figure marked.
24 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Johnson adults…
Johnson runs below VT on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Johnson residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Vermont. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Johnson
No hospital or community health center in Johnson 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 Johnson; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Johnson adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Johnson runs above Vermont.
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.
11.3% of Johnson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Johnson and the towns around it
Johnson’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson | A− | 29% | 7.3% | 12.5% | ZIP 05656 |
| Morristown | A− | 29.6% | 9.1% | 12.5% | ZIP 05661 |
| Cambridge | A | 30% | 7.3% | 11.1% | ZIP codes |
| Hyde Park | A− | 29.5% | 9.4% | 13.4% | ZIP 05655 |
| Eden | B+ | 30.8% | 8.8% | 15.1% | ZIP codes |
| Waterville | — | — | — | — |
Waterville: 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 Johnson adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Johnson
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Johnson is better than Vermont on 7 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside Johnson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Johnson | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.9%12.6–17.3 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.8–14.1 | 12.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.4–21.2 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29%24–34.1 | 28.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.3%6.2–8.4 | 8.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.5%22.6–28.5 | 31.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 26.1%23.2–29.1 | 32.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.4%21.8–26.9 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.6–13.5 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.5–8 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.4–3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12%9.5–14.9 | 10.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.5%10.3–14.8 | 11.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.3%15.8–23 | 18.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.8%16.8–23.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.5%26.6–36.8 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.4%5–8 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.8%65.8–73.5 | 76.1% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.1%61.3–68.7 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.9%77.9–83.3 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.7%68.5–74.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.1%62.2–71.8 | 69.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%70.8–83.5 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.4%26.5–34 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.6–25.5 | 22% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.5%8.4–10.8 | 9.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%8.4–10.8 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.7–7.5 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.3%10–12.8 | 11.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29%24.9–33 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%8.4–11.3 | 11% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.3%13.1–17.7 | 12.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.6–3.3 | 3.1% | 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 Vermont figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Johnson
Is Johnson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Johnson is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #42 of 71 in Vermont. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Johnson?
CDC estimates 29% of adults have obesity, likely between 24% and 34.1%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Johnson?
Copley Hospital in Morrisville, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Johnson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Johnson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–8%), 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 Johnson 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 Johnson.
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.