Photo: Curtis B. Johnson · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Strafford is healthier than 45%
Strafford differs from Vermont on 10 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 05072, 05070, 05075, 05065. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Strafford
Arthritis, diabetes and stroke run high in Strafford
1 in 3 adults have arthritis (34.4%), vs 27.8% across Vermont. 1 in 9 adults have diabetes (10.8%), vs 8.8% across Vermont. Stroke is also above the state: 4%, vs 3.3% across Vermont. In all, Strafford runs above Vermont on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Strafford’s lead shrinks
Strafford is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, but 45% of the 7,014 towns with similar household incomes ($83K–$139K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Strafford, and more people treating it
36.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Vermont 31.4%), but 80.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Strafford’s likely range; Strafford’s figures come from ZIP codes 05072, 05070, 05075, 05065, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Strafford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Strafford is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 78% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 48%).
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). Strafford’s median household income is $110,833; among the 7,014 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$139K), it’s healthier than 45%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Strafford adults…
Strafford runs above VT on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Strafford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
Care in and near Strafford
No hospital or community health center in Strafford 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 Strafford; ≈ 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.
24 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Strafford 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.
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 Strafford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Strafford and the towns around it
Strafford’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strafford | B+ | 33.8% | 10.8% | 12.6% | ZIP codes |
| Tunbridge | B+ | 33.9% | 9.9% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| Sharon | A | 29.1% | 8.5% | 11.3% | ZIP codes |
| Thetford | A | 30.9% | 9% | 9.4% | ZIP codes |
| Vershire | — | — | — | — | |
| Royalton | A− | 29.7% | 9.1% | 12.2% | ZIP codes |
| West Fairlee | — | — | — | — |
Vershire and West Fairlee: 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 Strafford adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Strafford
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Strafford is better than Vermont on 3 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside Strafford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Strafford | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.2%13.9–20.9 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12–16.7 | 12.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13–17.6 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.8%28.3–39.7 | 28.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.1–12.8 | 8.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.9%32.9–41 | 31.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%32.7–40.5 | 32.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 34.4%30.8–38.2 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.4–13.4 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.5%10.2–12.8 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.9%6.2–9.8 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4%3.4–4.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12%9.7–14.5 | 10.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.6%9.5–16.1 | 11.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.1%18.4–28.3 | 18.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.2–16.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28%24–32.3 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4–7.4 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%75.3–81.9 | 76.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.7%67.7–73.6 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.2–91 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.1%76.8–83 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.2%65–73.1 | 69.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.4%68.9–80.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%23.2–30.6 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%17–22.3 | 22% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.2%7.3–9.3 | 9.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 11.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.1%22.7–32 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.5%10.9–16.4 | 11% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.9%9.8–14.4 | 12.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.4–9.9 | 7.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%3.7–5.4 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6–8.9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.1–4.6 | 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 Strafford
Is Strafford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Strafford is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Strafford?
CDC estimates 33.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.3% and 39.7%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Strafford?
Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, 15.2 miles in a straight line from Strafford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Strafford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4–7.4%), 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 Strafford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Strafford.
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.