Photo: Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Reading residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Reading, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 05062, 05153. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Reading
Reading keeps up with checkups
It beats Vermont on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.2% vs 69.2%) and cholesterol checks (90.6% vs 85.9%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Reading
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.4%), vs 9.9% across Vermont. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Vermont 21%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Reading adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Vermont. 1 in 17 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 11 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Reading’s likely range; Reading’s figures come from ZIP codes 05062, 05153, which may reach past town lines.
Keeping up with care
Share of Reading adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
Out of every 100 Reading adults…
Reading runs below VT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Reading is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Vermont. Cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Reading as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.9% of Reading adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Care in and near Reading
No hospital or community health center in Reading 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 Reading; ≈ 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.
27 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Reading adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Reading does better than 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.
Reading and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Windsor | A | 28.3% | 8.9% | 10.5% | ZIP codes |
| Cavendish | A− | 29.4% | 10.3% | 12.1% | ZIP codes |
| Plymouth | — | — | — | — | |
| Woodstock | A+ | 27.6% | 9.3% | 8.9% | ZIP codes |
| Bridgewater | — | — | — | — |
Plymouth and Bridgewater: 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 Reading adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Reading
Why doesn’t Reading have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Reading.
What hospital is closest to Reading?
Mt Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, 10.0 miles in a straight line from Reading’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Reading?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Ludlow Health Center in Ludlow, 8.5 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Reading.
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. 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.