Northfield Falls Covered Bridge · Photo: Steven Bergeron Srbergeron · CC BY 3.0Within Vermont, Northfield is healthier than 51% of graded towns
Northfield differs from Vermont on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 05663. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Northfield
Vermont sets a high bar
Northfield is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, but only 51% of the 71 Vermont towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and high blood pressure are less common in Northfield
Northfield runs below Vermont on cancer (7.6% vs 9.9%), high blood pressure (26.3% vs 31.4%) and arthritis (23.4% vs 27.8%). 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 Northfield’s likely range; Northfield’s figures come from ZIP code 05663, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Northfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northfield is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #35 of 71 in Vermont. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Northfield’s median household income is $71,768; among the 10,657 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 95%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Northfield adults…
Northfield runs below VT on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Northfield
No hospital or community health center in Northfield 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 Northfield; ≈ 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.
23 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Northfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
How Northfield adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Northfield 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.
10.5% of Northfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Northfield and the towns around it
Northfield’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northfield | A− | 26.2% | 8% | 12.2% | ZIP 05663 |
| Waitsfield | A+ | 25.6% | 8.2% | 8.9% | ZIP 05673 |
| Williamstown | B+ | 32.7% | 8.9% | 13.5% | ZIP codes |
| Berlin | A | 26.8% | 8.7% | 11.6% | ZIP codes |
| Moretown | A+ | 26% | 8.2% | 9.8% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Northfield adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Northfield
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Northfield is better than Vermont on 6 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside Northfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Northfield | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.6%12.9–16.7 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 12.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.2–20.8 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.2%22.5–29.9 | 28.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8%7.1–9 | 8.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 26.3%24–28.6 | 31.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.3%26.8–31.8 | 32.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.4%21.4–25.3 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.1%10–12.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.2 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.4%11.1–16 | 10.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.2%10.4–14.1 | 11.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.9%16.3–21.9 | 18.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%16–20.8 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 25.9%22.3–29.8 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.4–8.9 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.5%67.3–73.6 | 76.1% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.2%63–69.4 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.7%75.2–81.8 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%70.8–75.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.8%63.9–71.5 | 69.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%67.7–79.7 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.3%26.3–32.3 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%21.2–27.1 | 22% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.7%8.6–10.8 | 9.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%7.8–10 | 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 | 7.9%7.2–8.8 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.5%9.3–11.9 | 11.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.1%24.7–31.6 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.7%8.6–10.9 | 11% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%12.7–17.3 | 12.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.3–7.7 | 7.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.8–4.7 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.6–8.6 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 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 Northfield
Is Northfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northfield is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #35 of 71 in Vermont. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Northfield?
CDC estimates 26.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.5% and 29.9%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Northfield?
Central Vermont Medical Center in Barre, 11.2 miles in a straight line from Northfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Northfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.4–8.9%), 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 Northfield 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 Northfield.
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.