How healthy is Laurel?
Laurel differs from New York on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Laurel. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Laurel
Cancer and heart disease run high in Laurel
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 7.7% across New York. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.2%), vs 6.1% across New York. In all, Laurel runs above New York on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%), and cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Laurel adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New York. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Laurel adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (27.8% vs 34.2%) and lack of emotional support (21.3% vs 26.4%) both run below New York. Mind & connection ↓
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 York figure falls outside Laurel’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Laurel adults…
Laurel runs below NY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Laurel is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Laurel as about how healthy they are.
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 Laurel adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
How Laurel adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Laurel does better than New York.
3 in 10 Laurel 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.
Care in and near Laurel
No hospital or community health center in Laurel 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 Laurel; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
7 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Laurel adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Laurel and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 Laurel adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Not graded
CDC doesn't publish all seven estimates the grade is built on for Laurel, so we show its figures without a grade.
All 40 CDC measures for Laurel
| Measure | Laurel | Likely range | New York | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 34.9% | 32–37.9% | 32.6% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 42.5% | 39.6–45.5% | 37.7% | worse |
| Obesity | 30.1% | 26.4–34% | 28.8% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8% | 25.3–30.4% | 24% | worse |
| Depression | 16.9% | 14.8–19.3% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.2% | 8.6–12% | 12.8% | better |
| Asthma | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.5% | 9.5–11.5% | 7.7% | worse |
| Diabetes | 11% | 9.5–12.6% | 11.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 6.9% | 5.6–8.4% | 6% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.2% | 6.3–8.3% | 6.1% | worse |
| Stroke | 3.5% | 3–4% | 3.4% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.2% | 8–12.8% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.7% | 13.6–17.9% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 24.4% | 20.7–28.4% | 25.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3% | 34.1–40.8% | 37.9% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82.5% | 80.2–84.6% | 80.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 65.3% | 62.7–67.9% | 63.5% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 90.9% | 89.4–92.2% | 89.2% | better |
| Colon screening | 67% | 63.8–70.2% | 66.8% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 82.4% | 78.3–86.1% | 78.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.6% | 77.1–82.1% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 7% | 5.4–8.8% | 7.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 27.8% | 24.4–31.6% | 34.2% | better |
| Lack emotional support | 21.3% | 18.1–24.5% | 26.4% | better |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.2% | 12.4–16.1% | 15% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 17% | 14.2–20.1% | 18.1% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.1% | 11.3–15.1% | 12.8% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 11.9% | 9.3–15.2% | 17.2% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 10.1% | 8.1–12.2% | 14.5% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.8% | 4.7–6.9% | 8.2% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 6.4% | 5.3–7.7% | 8.6% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 9.7% | 7.4–12.7% | 14.1% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.3% | 24.6–32.2% | 27.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.9% | 11.6–16.4% | 13.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 11.4% | 9.7–13.4% | 12.1% | |
| Hearing | 6.7% | 5.9–7.7% | 5.6% | |
| Vision | 4.5% | 3.8–5.3% | 5.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.6% | 3–4.2% | 3.8% | |
| Errands alone | 7.1% | 5.9–8.4% | 7.7% | |
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 Laurel door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the New York figure falls inside it, we don’t call Laurel better or worse.
CDC publishes Laurel directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Laurel.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. 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.