Ulster County Unveils Interactive 2025 Community Health Assessment

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Ulster County residents can now explore local health trends down to the ZIP-code level, as the Ulster County Department of Health releases its 2025 Community Health Assessment in a new interactive StoryMap format.

County officials say the ArcGIS-based platform makes health data more accessible and transparent, while allowing policymakers, healthcare providers and community groups to better identify disparities and target resources where they’re needed most.

The Community Health Assessment, or CHA, serves as a comprehensive health “report card,” combining federal, state and local data with results from a countywide community survey. This year’s assessment includes more granular and up-to-date information than ever before, including neighborhood-level health outcomes.

“Good health is fundamental to individual and community well-being and to a thriving economy, and this assessment enables us to identify the areas of greatest need and target our public health investments accordingly,” Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said. She praised the interactive format as “a powerful approach” that helps residents and decision-makers better understand shared challenges and solutions.

Among the findings: childhood vaccination rates in Ulster County exceed state averages for several immunizations, but HPV vaccination among 13-year-old girls lags behind statewide levels. Cancer screening rates also fall short of national goals, even though most residents surveyed said screenings are very important.

The assessment shows declining death rates from lung and colon cancer, while female breast cancer mortality has remained unchanged. It also highlights disparities across race, ethnicity and ZIP code for chronic diseases such as heart disease, asthma and Type 2 diabetes.

Tick-borne illnesses, particularly Lyme disease, continue to affect Ulster County at rates far higher than the state average. Maternal health indicators show fewer births with adequate prenatal care compared to state benchmarks, though in-hospital breastfeeding rates are significantly higher than the statewide average.

Mental health and substance use remain major concerns. Ulster County’s unintentional overdose death rate is lower than the national average but slightly higher than the New York State rate. Suicide rates are below the national average but above the state average, with firearms involved in about half of cases in 2024.

The CHA also underscores the role of social determinants of health. More than 40 percent of households fall below the ALICE threshold — meaning they earn above the poverty line but still struggle to afford basic necessities. Food insecurity affects about 13 percent of residents and disproportionately impacts Black and Latino communities.

“By utilizing the most up-to-date, granular, zip code-level data — and presenting these findings in the StoryMap — our County Department of Health now has the unique capacity to identify and target health disparities in our County,” said Ulster County Public Health Director Eve Walter. “These findings will guide our outreach and program planning to better meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents.”

Kristin Kessler, Director of Community Health, said the assessment will help engage residents and leaders across the county. “I am looking forward to using this incredible, rich assessment of our community to engage with leaders, advocates, and residents of all ages to work together to make Ulster County a healthy, vibrant place to live,” she said.

The assessment will inform the County’s next Community Health Improvement Plan, expected in early 2026. While New York State requires a CHA every five years, Ulster County plans to update its findings annually.

The interactive 2025 Community Health Assessment can be viewed at ulstercountyny.gov/health/2025CHA.