Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0Where Howard residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Howard, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Howard. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Howard
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Howard
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), about twice the Colorado rate. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.8%), about twice the Colorado rate. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 2.7% across Colorado. In all, Howard runs above Colorado on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 38% of residents are 65 or older (Colorado 16%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Howard, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Colorado 27%), but 80% of them take medicine for it, vs 69.5% statewide. Checkups ↓
More Howard adults get no exercise
1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (23.5%), vs 17.7% across Colorado. Habits ↓
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 Colorado figure falls outside Howard’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Howard adults…
Howard runs above CO on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Howard is an older town: 38% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Colorado. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Howard as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Howard adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
7.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Howard
No hospital or community health center in Howard 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 Howard; ≈ 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).
How Howard adults are doing
About the same as Colorado on each measure.
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.
Howard and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coaldale | — | — | — | — |
Coaldale: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Howard adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Howard
Why doesn’t Howard have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Howard.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Howard.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado 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.