Photo: Rolf Müller (User:Rolfmueller) · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Vermont, Shaftsbury is healthier than 50% of graded towns
Shaftsbury beats Vermont on 5 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 05262, 05257, 05201. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shaftsbury
Vermont sets a high bar
Shaftsbury is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, but only 50% of the 71 Vermont towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Shaftsbury adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing and utility bills all run below Vermont. 1 in 14 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 Shaftsbury’s likely range; Shaftsbury’s figures come from ZIP codes 05262, 05257, 05201, 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 Shaftsbury’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shaftsbury is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #36 of 71 in Vermont. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 89% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 59%.
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). Shaftsbury’s median household income is $86,071; among the 10,312 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($65K–$108K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.4% of Shaftsbury adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Out of every 100 Shaftsbury adults…
On every condition, Shaftsbury is about the same as Vermont. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Shaftsbury
No hospital or community health center in Shaftsbury 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 Shaftsbury; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Vermont
Share of adults, with the Vermont figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Shaftsbury adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
How Shaftsbury 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.
Shaftsbury and the towns around it
Shaftsbury’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaftsbury | A− | 29.6% | 9.2% | 11.5% | ZIP codes |
| Bennington | B+ | 31.5% | 10.1% | 13.4% | ZIP codes |
| Arlington | A− | 30.6% | 9.7% | 11.5% | ZIP 05250 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Shaftsbury adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Shaftsbury
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Shaftsbury is better than Vermont on 5 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside Shaftsbury’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Shaftsbury | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.1%12.7–17.8 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.7–15.5 | 12.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.3–18.7 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.6%24.9–34.6 | 28.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.2%7.9–10.7 | 8.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.7%30.4–37.1 | 31.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.6%29.3–36 | 32.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.1%27.2–33.2 | 27.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.4–13.2 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.6%9.5–11.6 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 6.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.9%5.7–8.1 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.9%7.3–10.9 | 10.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.5%9.2–14 | 11.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.2%15.9–22.9 | 18.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.4–18.6 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.8%27.8–36.4 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%4.5–7.7 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%73.7–80.1 | 76.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.5%67.6–73.5 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84–88.3 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.3–79.3 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.3%70.7–77.9 | 69.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.7%71–82.1 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.6%26.1–33.2 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20%17.5–22.7 | 22% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 9.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%5–6.1 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.4%7.4–9.4 | 11.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.7%24.8–32.8 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.2–14.3 | 11% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.7%10.7–14.9 | 12.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7–9.1 | 7.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.5–4.7 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.1–8.5 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.8 | 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 Shaftsbury
Is Shaftsbury a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shaftsbury is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #36 of 71 in Vermont. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Shaftsbury?
CDC estimates 29.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.9% and 34.6%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Shaftsbury?
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, 7.3 miles in a straight line from Shaftsbury’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Shaftsbury have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.5–7.7%), 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 Shaftsbury 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 Shaftsbury.
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.