Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Wells is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns
Wells differs from Vermont on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 05774, 05764. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wells
Obesity, heart disease and COPD run high in Wells
1 in 3 adults have obesity (35.8%), vs 28.6% across Vermont. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.6%), vs 6.3% across Vermont. COPD is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 6.5% across Vermont. In all, Wells runs above Vermont on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Wells, and more people treating it
37.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Vermont 31.4%), but 79.7% 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 Wells’ likely range; Wells’ figures come from ZIP codes 05774, 05764, 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 Wells’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wells is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 75% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Wells’ median household income is $75,417; among the 10,839 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$94K), it’s healthier than 81%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Wells adults…
Wells runs above VT on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wells adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
Care in and near Wells
No hospital or community health center in Wells 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 Wells; ≈ 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.
11 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Wells 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.
9.7% of Wells adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
Wells and the towns around it
Wells’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | B+ | 35.8% | 10.4% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| Pawlet | B | 35.8% | 10.9% | 13.4% | ZIP codes |
| Poultney | B+ | 35.4% | 9.7% | 12.8% | ZIP 05764 |
| Tinmouth | — | — | — | — | |
| Middletown Springs | — | — | — | — |
Tinmouth and Middletown Springs: 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 Wells adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wells
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wells is better than Vermont on 4 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside Wells’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wells | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.4%14–19 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.7–16.4 | 12.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.1–17.9 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.8%31–40.8 | 28.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.4%9–12.1 | 8.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%34.2–40.8 | 31.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.7%31.6–38.2 | 32.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33%30.1–36.1 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.6–13.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%10.1–12.2 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.7–8.6 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.7–9.1 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.4–4.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14%11.6–16.9 | 10.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.1%10.8–15.5 | 11.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.7%18.3–25.3 | 18.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.4–18.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.3%26.4–34.6 | 28.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%4.7–7.5 | 6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.8–81.6 | 76.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.7%64.6–70.8 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%86.2–89.5 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%76.9–82.4 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.2%64.3–72.1 | 69.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.5%69.5–80.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%22.1–28.1 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.1%18.6–23.9 | 22% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8%7.1–9 | 9.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.7%6.8–8.7 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.5%4.9–6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.7%8.6–10.9 | 11.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.1%26.5–33.9 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%11.4–15.4 | 11% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.7%11–14.5 | 12.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%7.9–10.1 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.7–4.9 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.1%6.2–8.2 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.1–4.2 | 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 Wells
Is Wells a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wells is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 81%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wells?
CDC estimates 35.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31% and 40.8%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wells?
Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, 15.9 miles in a straight line from Wells’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wells have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–7.5%), 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 Wells 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 Wells.
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.