Potsdam, NY health
Potsdam differs from New York on 20 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults with diabetes (5.3% vs 11.5%) and fewer adults who have had a stroke (1.6% vs 3.4%). Where it trails the state: more adults in frequent mental distress (23.1% vs 15%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for PotsdamPotsdam’s Health Grade: B+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Potsdam is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, and than 99% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Potsdam is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B+.
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 New York 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 Potsdam 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. Potsdam uses CDC’s own estimate for it. 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.
How Potsdam compares with New York
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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Potsdam adults…
Bars show Potsdam; the black tick is New York. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
NY 25.9%
NY 37.9%
NY 16.3%
NY 11.3%
Keeping up with care
Share of Potsdam adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Potsdam adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.4% of Potsdam adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Living with a disability
of Potsdam adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: New York. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Potsdam
1 hospital in Potsdam, 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 Potsdam. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Potsdam
| Measure | Potsdam | Margin | New York | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 20.8% | 18.5–23.2% | 32.6% | better |
| High cholesterol | 22.6% | 20.3–25.1% | 37.7% | better |
| Obesity | 35.6% | 30.7–40.5% | 28.8% | worse |
| Arthritis | 13.3% | 11.9–14.8% | 24% | better |
| Depression | 25.9% | 22.7–29.2% | 17.5% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 13.2% | 10.9–16% | 12.8% | about the same |
| Asthma | 12.2% | 10.8–13.5% | 10.3% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1% | 7.7% | better |
| Diabetes | 5.3% | 4.6–6.1% | 11.5% | better |
| COPD | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8% | 6% | better |
| Heart disease | 3% | 2.7–3.4% | 6.1% | better |
| Stroke | 1.6% | 1.5–1.8% | 3.4% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10% | 8.4–11.8% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 22.7% | 19.4–26.2% | 16.3% | worse |
| Get no exercise | 22.5% | 19.1–25.9% | 25.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3% | 31.9–41.1% | 37.9% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.9% | 72.3–79.2% | 80.8% | worse |
| Dentist visit | 62.1% | 58.8–65.4% | 63.5% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 75.1% | 72.1–78% | 89.2% | worse |
| Colon screening | 63.4% | 59.1–67.8% | 66.8% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 77.3% | 71.5–82.5% | 78.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 55.6% | 53.2–57.9% | 77.2% | worse |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 5.5–7.9% | 7.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 42.1% | 37.4–46.6% | 34.2% | worse |
| Lack emotional support | 26.8% | 23.4–30.4% | 26.4% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 23.1% | 20.7–25.5% | 15% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 15.1% | 13.1–17.2% | 18.1% | better |
| Frequent physical distress | 10.6% | 9.2–11.9% | 12.8% | better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 18.6% | 15.9–21.4% | 17.2% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 14.4% | 12.5–16.5% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.7% | 7.6–9.9% | 8.2% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 13% | 11.4–14.5% | 8.6% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 16.4% | 13.9–18.9% | 14.1% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4% | 25.8–33% | 27.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 6.9% | 5.9–7.9% | 13.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.9% | 16.8–21% | 12.1% | |
| Hearing | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2% | 5.6% | |
| Vision | 4.6% | 4.1–5% | 5.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.4% | 2.1–2.7% | 3.8% | |
| Errands alone | 9.6% | 8.5–10.7% | 7.7% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York 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.