Wolfeboro is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Wolfeboro differs from New Hampshire on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 03894, 03864. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wolfeboro
New Hampshire sets a high bar
Wolfeboro is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, but only 42% of the 185 New Hampshire towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease, cancer and stroke run high in Wolfeboro
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.8%), vs 6% across New Hampshire. 1 in 7 adults have had cancer (13.9%), vs 9.8% across New Hampshire. Stroke is also above the state: 4.3%, vs 3.1% across New Hampshire. In all, Wolfeboro runs above New Hampshire on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 35% of residents are 65 or older (New Hampshire 20%), and heart disease, cancer and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Wolfeboro, and more people treating it
37.5% of adults have high blood pressure (New Hampshire 33%), but 84.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Wolfeboro has a top-rated hospital
Huggins Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 New Hampshire figure falls outside Wolfeboro’s likely range; Wolfeboro’s figures come from ZIP codes 03894, 03864, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Wolfeboro’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Wolfeboro is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Wolfeboro does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 the Healthiest towns in New Hampshire ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (21,557 places): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Wolfeboro 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. 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.
Out of every 100 Wolfeboro adults…
Wolfeboro runs above NH on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Wolfeboro is an older town: 35% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across New Hampshire. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Wolfeboro as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wolfeboro adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Hampshire.
Care in and near Wolfeboro
1 hospital in Wolfeboro, 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 Wolfeboro; ≈ 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 New Hampshire
Share of adults, with the New Hampshire figure marked.
34 miles of trails across 26 parks and preserves
How Wolfeboro adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Wolfeboro does better than New Hampshire.
3 in 10 Wolfeboro adults feel lonely. 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.
5.9% of Wolfeboro adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.5% across New Hampshire.
Wolfeboro and the towns around it
Wolfeboro’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wolfeboro adults live with a disability (New Hampshire 26.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
All 40 CDC measures for Wolfeboro
| Measure | Wolfeboro | Likely range | New Hampshire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 37.5% | 34–41% | 33% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 40.6% | 36.9–44.2% | 35.2% | worse |
| Obesity | 30.2% | 25.3–35.1% | 31.8% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 35.6% | 32.5–38.8% | 27.6% | worse |
| Depression | 21.1% | 18.1–24% | 22.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 12.5% | 10.3–14.9% | 8.9% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.1% | 8.9–11.3% | 10.5% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 13.9% | 12.7–15.2% | 9.8% | worse |
| Diabetes | 11.4% | 9.8–13% | 9.4% | worse |
| COPD | 8% | 6.9–9.2% | 6.2% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.8% | 7.8–9.7% | 6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.3% | 3.8–4.7% | 3.1% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10% | 8.3–11.8% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 12.8% | 10.7–15.1% | 15.7% | better |
| Get no exercise | 21.2% | 17.9–24.6% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6% | 28–37.2% | 32.9% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 81.6% | 78.7–84.2% | 77.8% | better |
| Dentist visit | 66.3% | 62.9–69.4% | 68.8% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 91.7% | 90.5–92.9% | 88.3% | better |
| Colon screening | 73.6% | 69.5–77.3% | 69.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.9% | 70.4–82.2% | 78.8% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 84.1% | 81.4–86.4% | 76.8% | better |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 4.6–6.9% | 6.8% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 27.6% | 24.1–31.3% | 30.6% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 19% | 16.4–22% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 13.2% | 11.6–14.8% | 15.3% | better |
| Fair or poor health | 15.4% | 13.3–17.7% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.4% | 11.8–15.1% | 11.7% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 8.1% | 6.7–9.8% | 9.5% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 6.5% | 5.5–7.7% | 8.1% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 4.5% | 3.8–5.4% | 5.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 4.8% | 4.2–5.6% | 5.6% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 5.9% | 4.8–7.3% | 6.5% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.7% | 24.3–31.2% | 26.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 14.5% | 12.4–16.7% | 11.3% | |
| Thinking or memory | 10.7% | 9.3–12.1% | 12% | |
| Hearing | 10.2% | 9–11.3% | 7.2% | |
| Vision | 4.4% | 3.9–5.1% | 3.8% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.5% | 3.1–4.1% | 2.9% | |
| Errands alone | 7.1% | 6.3–8.1% | 6.6% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Wolfeboro door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the New Hampshire figure falls inside it, we don’t call Wolfeboro better or worse.
CDC publishes towns like Wolfeboro by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Wolfeboro by how much of its land each one covers.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wolfeboro.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Hampshire 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.