Brown Covered Bridge · Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Shrewsbury is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns
Shrewsbury differs from Vermont on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 05738. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shrewsbury
Cancer, obesity and arthritis run high in Shrewsbury
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (11.9%), vs 9.9% across Vermont. 1 in 3 adults have obesity (33.9%), vs 28.6% across Vermont. Arthritis is also above the state: 32.7%, vs 27.8% across Vermont. In all, Shrewsbury runs above Vermont on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Shrewsbury keeps up with checkups
It beats Vermont on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (79.9% vs 76.1%) and cholesterol checks (89.4% vs 85.9%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Shrewsbury, and more people treating it
36.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Vermont 31.4%), but 80.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Shrewsbury is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A tops all four graded neighbors. The closest is Clarendon (B+). Around town ↓
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 Shrewsbury’s likely range; Shrewsbury’s figures come from ZIP code 05738, 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 Shrewsbury’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shrewsbury is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 88% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 66%.
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). Shrewsbury’s median household income is $91,250; among the 9,831 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($68K–$114K), it’s healthier than 89%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Shrewsbury adults…
Shrewsbury runs below VT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Shrewsbury adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
Shrewsbury and the towns around it
Shrewsbury has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrewsbury | A | 33.9% | 9.8% | 10.4% | ZIP 05738 |
| Mount Holly | B+ | 35.9% | 10.8% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Wallingford | B+ | 35.9% | 10.6% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
| Plymouth | — | — | — | — | |
| Mendon | B | 36.2% | 10.7% | 13.6% | ZIP 05701 |
| Clarendon | B+ | 35% | 10.3% | 12.7% | ZIP codes |
Plymouth: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Shrewsbury
No hospital or community health center in Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury; ≈ 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.
49 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Shrewsbury adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Shrewsbury 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.3% of Shrewsbury adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Shrewsbury adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Shrewsbury
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Shrewsbury is better than Vermont on 10 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside Shrewsbury’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Shrewsbury | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.2%11.8–17.2 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.2–15.2 | 12.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.4–16.4 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.9%29–39 | 28.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.3–11.4 | 8.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.8%33.3–40.4 | 31.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.8%31.6–38.3 | 32.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.7%29.6–36 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.9%10.8–13.2 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.3–8.3 | 6.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.8%5.5–8.4 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.1–4.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.1%5.7–8.6 | 10.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.4%7.9–13.1 | 11.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.1%15.6–23.3 | 18.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%13.2–18 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.2%24.4–32.3 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5%3.6–6.5 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%77.2–82.7 | 76.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.9%68–73.7 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.4%87.6–91 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%77.7–83.2 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.5%70.9–78 | 69.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79%73.5–83.8 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%20.8–26.9 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19%16.7–21.6 | 22% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.2%5.5–7 | 9.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.2%5.5–7.1 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.5%4.1–5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.3%6.4–8.2 | 11.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.7%23.8–31.9 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12%9.9–14.6 | 11% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.9%9.2–13 | 12.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 7.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.1–4.4 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.2%5.2–7.4 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.6–3.7 | 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 Shrewsbury
Is Shrewsbury a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shrewsbury is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Shrewsbury?
CDC estimates 33.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 29% and 39%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Shrewsbury?
Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, 7.1 miles in a straight line from Shrewsbury’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Shrewsbury have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.6–6.5%), 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 Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury.
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.