Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, South Hero is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
South Hero differs from Vermont on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 05486, 05458. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Hero
South Hero keeps up with checkups
It beats Vermont on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.5% vs 69.2%) and cholesterol checks (90.2% vs 85.9%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in South Hero
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (11.8%), vs 9.9% across Vermont. Conditions ↓
Fewer South Hero adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Vermont. 1 in 18 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 South Hero’s likely range; South Hero’s figures come from ZIP codes 05486, 05458, 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 South Hero’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Hero is healthier than 93% 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 94% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 84%.
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). South Hero’s median household income is $127,434; among the 4,813 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($96K–$159K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of South Hero adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.2% of South Hero adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Out of every 100 South Hero adults…
South Hero runs below VT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near South Hero
1 community health center in South Hero, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 South Hero; ≈ 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.
9.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How South Hero adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, South Hero 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.
South Hero and the towns around it
South Hero’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Hero | A | 29.3% | 9.3% | 9.8% | ZIP codes |
| Milton | A | 27.7% | 7.9% | 12% | ZIP 05468 |
| Colchester | A | 24.9% | 7.4% | 10.5% | ZIP 05446 |
| Grand Isle | A | 29.5% | 8.5% | 10.1% | ZIP 05458 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Hero adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Hero
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Hero is better than Vermont on 11 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside South Hero’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Hero | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.9%10.5–15.7 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%9.9–13.6 | 12.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%11.7–15.6 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.3%23.4–35.6 | 28.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%7.8–10.9 | 8.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.5%31.5–39.7 | 31.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%31–39.2 | 32.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.9%28.3–35.7 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.6–7.5 | 6.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%4.9–7.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.8–3.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.7%5.5–8.2 | 10.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.8%7.5–12.3 | 11.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.1%13.4–20.9 | 18.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.8–18.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.8%22.9–32.7 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.7%3.5–6.2 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.2–82 | 76.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.5%70.4–76.1 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.2%88.4–91.7 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%74.5–81.1 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 78.5%74.6–81.9 | 69.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.3%76.7–86.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.8–27.9 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.3%15.6–21.2 | 22% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.6%4.9–6.4 | 9.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.8%5.1–6.8 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4%3.4–4.6 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 11.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.6%19.6–27.6 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.5%8.4–12.7 | 11% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.1%8.3–11.9 | 12.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 7.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%2.8–4 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.7%4.6–6.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.3–3.4 | 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 South Hero
Is South Hero a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Hero is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A 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 South Hero?
CDC estimates 29.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 35.6%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Hero?
The University of Vermont Health Network - Champl in Plattsburgh, 9.1 miles in a straight line from South Hero’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Hero have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.5–6.2%), 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 South Hero 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 South Hero.
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.