Health · Dunstable

Dunstable, MA health

Dunstable differs from Massachusetts on 19 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (5.7% vs 11.9%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (6.6% vs 12.4%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP code 01827 (all of Dunstable)
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Dunstable’s Health Grade: A+

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Dunstable is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns and 87% of Massachusetts towns.

A+Self-rated healthA+Physical distressAMental distressA+ObesityA+DiabetesASmokingA+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 97%
Less healthyHealthier
Massachusetts towns we grade (320)Healthier than 87%
Towns with similar incomes, $156K–$261K (894)Healthier than 54%

Wealth explains part of the grade. Dunstable is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Dunstable could be anywhere from A to A+.
How the Health Grade works
  • Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Massachusetts ranking.
  • Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Dunstable with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
  • Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Dunstable’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card

How Dunstable compares with Massachusetts

Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Dunstable adults…

28 of every 100 Dunstable adults have high blood pressure
Massachusetts: 31 in 100 · better · margin 25.1–30.6%

Bars show Dunstable; the black tick is Massachusetts. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Dunstable, betterDunstable, worseToo close to callMassachusetts
Get no exerciseshare of adults 15.6% Dunstable
MA 21.7%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 29.4% Dunstable
MA 33.6%
Binge drinkshare of adults 18% Dunstable
MA 17%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 8.8% Dunstable
MA 11.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Dunstable adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.

81%
Yearly checkup
MA 81%
78%
Dentist visit
MA 70%
92%
Cholesterol check
MA 90%
74%
Colon screening
MA 68%
85%
Mammogram
MA 84%
74%
Taking BP meds
MA 75%
1 in 36
working-age adults has no health insurance
Dunstable 2.8% · Massachusetts 1 in 19 (5.2%)
Mind & connection

How Dunstable adults are doing

1 in 3Dunstable adults feel lonely
32.2% · Massachusetts 34.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Dunstable adults have been diagnosed with depression
25% · Massachusetts 23.8% · too close to call
1 in 5Dunstable adults lack social or emotional support
19.4% · Massachusetts 23.4% · better
1 in 7Dunstable adults are in frequent mental distress
14.5% · Massachusetts 16.2% · too close to call
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 15
Dunstable adults worry about having enough food
6.6% · MA 12.4% · better
1 in 14
Dunstable adults worry about keeping their housing
6.9% · MA 11.1% · better
1 in 24
Dunstable adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
4.2% · MA 7% · better
1 in 20
Dunstable adults lack reliable transportation
5% · MA 7.6% · better

7.2% of Dunstable adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.

Disability

Living with a disability

22.3%

of Dunstable adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs8.8%
Thinking or memory11.2%
Hearing5%
Errands alone5.5%
Vision2.7%
Dressing or bathing2.3%

Black tick: Massachusetts. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Dunstable

Dunstable and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Dunstable.

Pepperell: 25.9% Tyngsborough: 24.7% Groton: 24.2% Nashua: 33.2% Hollis: 31.3% Townsend: 26.8% Chelmsford: 23.6% Dracut: 26.3% Lowell: 27.2% Westford: 21.7% Shirley: 27.3% Ayer: 26.7% Littleton: 23.9% Merrimack: 32% Hudson: 33% Litchfield: 31.8% Dunstable: 24% Dunstable Pepperell Tyngsborough Groton Nashua St. Joseph Hospital · Nashua · 5.2 mi · 4★ MedicareH Southern NH Medical Center · Nashua · 5.9 mi · 2★ MedicareH Lowell General Hospital · Lowell · 8.3 mi · 2★ MedicareH Nashoba Valley Medical Center · Ayer · 8.4 miH Integreat Health · Nashua · 5.8 mi+ Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center · Nashua · 6.1 mi+
21.7%33.2%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#4 of 17towns on this map, healthiest first
Dunstable24%
Groton24.2%
Tyngsborough24.7%
Pepperell25.9%
Nashua33.2%
6 places to get careNearest ER 5.2 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Dunstable

No hospital or community health center in Dunstable itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERSt. Joseph HospitalNashua · 5.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbySouthern NH Medical Center★★★★★ · 5.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLamprey Health CareNashua · 5.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
5.2 mi
St. Joseph Hospital
Nashua · ★★★★★
ER
5.8 mi
Lamprey Health Care
3 sites · nearest in Nashua
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
5.9 mi
Southern NH Medical Center
Nashua · ★★★★★
ER
6.1 mi
Harbor Homes
2 sites · nearest in Nashua
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
8.3 mi
Lowell General Hospital
Lowell · ★★★★★
ER
8.4 mi
Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Ayer · not rated
ER
✓ Primary careDunstable is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careDunstable is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthDunstable is not a shortage area

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 Dunstable. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

All 40 measures for Dunstable
MeasureDunstableMarginMassachusetts
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure27.9%25.1–30.6%30.9%better
High cholesterol36.6%33.8–39.4%35.4%about the same
Obesity24%20.5–27.7%27.7%about the same
Arthritis24.9%22.5–27.4%25.4%about the same
Depression25%22.3–27.8%23.8%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)5.7%4.6–6.9%11.9%better
Asthma11.6%10.3–12.9%11.6%about the same
Cancer (not skin)9.3%8.4–10.2%8.5%about the same
Diabetes7.9%6.8–9.2%9.8%better
COPD4.5%3.5–5.7%5.9%better
Heart disease4.8%4.1–5.5%5.8%better
Stroke2.4%2–2.8%3%better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes8.8%6.4–11.4%11.3%about the same
Binge drink18%16–20.2%17%about the same
Get no exercise15.6%12.8–19%21.7%better
Sleep under 7 hours29.4%26.4–32.6%33.6%better
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup80.9%78.7–83.2%80.9%about the same
Dentist visit77.6%75.5–79.5%69.8%better
Cholesterol check92.3%90.8–93.6%89.7%better
Colon screening73.9%70.9–76.8%68.4%better
Mammogram85.3%81.7–88.6%83.7%about the same
Taking BP meds73.9%70.9–77%75.4%about the same
No health insurance2.8%2–3.8%5.2%better
Mind & connection
Feel lonely32.2%28.9–35.8%34.2%about the same
Lack emotional support19.4%16.8–22.6%23.4%better
Frequent mental distress14.5%12.6–16.7%16.2%about the same
Fair or poor health11.8%9.6–14.4%16.3%better
Frequent physical distress10%8.4–11.7%12.3%better
Everyday needs
Food insecurity6.6%4.9–8.7%12.4%better
Housing insecurity6.9%5.4–8.7%11.1%better
Utility shut-off threat4.2%3.4–5.3%7%better
No reliable transportation5%4.1–6.1%7.6%better
Receive SNAP7.2%5.2–9.6%14.1%
Disability
Any disability22.3%19.1–25.9%27.3%
Walking or climbing stairs8.8%7.1–10.8%11.6%
Thinking or memory11.2%9.4–13.6%13.7%
Hearing5%4.3–5.7%6%
Vision2.7%2.3–3.3%4.1%
Dressing or bathing2.3%1.8–2.8%3.1%
Errands alone5.5%4.6–6.8%7.2%
About these numbers

How CDC estimates town health

They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Dunstable door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Massachusetts figure falls inside it, we don't call Dunstable better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Dunstable by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Dunstable by how much of its land each one covers.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.

Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01