Photo: redjar · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Leicester is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns
Leicester differs from Vermont on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 05733, 05769, 05778. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Leicester
COPD, obesity and heart disease run high in Leicester
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.1%), vs 6.5% across Vermont. 1 in 3 adults have obesity (34.2%), vs 28.6% across Vermont. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.5%, vs 6.3% across Vermont. In all, Leicester runs above Vermont on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Leicester adults get no exercise
1 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (22.2%), vs 18.9% across Vermont. There are 18 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Leicester is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Leicester is healthier than 69%. Against the 10,545 towns with similar household incomes ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 85%. 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 Vermont figure falls outside Leicester’s likely range; Leicester’s figures come from ZIP codes 05733, 05769, 05778, 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 Leicester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Leicester is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 75% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 43%).
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). Leicester’s median household income is $70,417; among the 10,545 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 85%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Leicester adults…
Leicester runs above VT on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Vermont
Share of adults, with the Vermont figure marked.
18 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Leicester
No hospital or community health center in Leicester 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 Leicester; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Leicester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
How Leicester 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.
10.6% of Leicester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Leicester and the towns around it
Leicester’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Leicester adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Leicester
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Leicester is better than Vermont on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside Leicester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Leicester | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.1%14.9–19.4 | 14.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13–16.2 | 12.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.4–17.9 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.2%30–38.7 | 28.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.4%9.2–11.8 | 8.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%34.1–40 | 31.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%32.2–38 | 32.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 32.8%30.2–35.4 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.7–13.1 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.8%9.9–11.8 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.5%11.3–16.1 | 10.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.3%11.3–15.5 | 11.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 22.2%19–25.5 | 18.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%13.4–17.7 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.6%26.1–33.4 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.4%5.2–7.7 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%76.2–81.3 | 76.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.9%65.1–70.6 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.5–88.8 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.5–81.4 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.2%63.6–70.6 | 69.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%70.5–80.7 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.7–28.3 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.7%18.4–23.1 | 22% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 9.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.1%7.3–9.1 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 11.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26.5–33.1 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.6%11.8–15.4 | 11% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.1%11.6–14.8 | 12.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%8–9.9 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.8–8.6 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Leicester
Is Leicester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Leicester is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Leicester?
CDC estimates 34.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30% and 38.7%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Leicester?
Porter Hospital in Middlebury, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Leicester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Leicester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–7.7%), 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 Leicester 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 Leicester.
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.