Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Buhl is healthier than 65%
Buhl trails Idaho on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buhl. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buhl
More Buhl adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.6%), vs 22.2% across Idaho. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Buhl
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.3%), vs 12.8% across Idaho. Utility shut-off threats (8.8% vs 6.6%) and housing insecurity (13.7% vs 10.3%) are higher too. 13.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Buhl
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6.6% across Idaho. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.2%), vs 3.3% across Idaho. Diabetes is also above the state: 12.8%, vs 10.1% across Idaho. In all, Buhl runs above Idaho on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Buhl is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Buhl is healthier than 37%. Against the 7,599 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 65%. Health Grade ↓
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 Idaho figure falls outside Buhl’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Buhl’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buhl is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns, #52 of 59 in Idaho. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 63% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 17%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Buhl’s median household income is $55,568; among the 7,599 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 65%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Idaho towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Buhl is healthier than 12% of graded towns, against 37% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Idaho
Share of adults, with the Idaho figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.8% of Buhl adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.8% across Idaho.
Out of every 100 Buhl adults…
Buhl runs above ID on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Buhl
1 community health center in Buhl, 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 Buhl; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Buhl adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Idaho.
How Buhl adults are doing
About the same as Idaho on each measure.
3 in 10 Buhl 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.
Buhl and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buhl | C+ | 34.4% | 12.8% | 14.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buhl adults live with a disability (Idaho 34.7%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Buhl
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buhl is better than Idaho on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Idaho figure falls inside Buhl’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Buhl | ID | U.S. | vs ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.3–27.4 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%13.8–18.2 | 13.6% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.6–18.9 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%29.3–39.5 | 32.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11–14.7 | 10.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 33.4%30–36.8 | 31.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.5%28.1–35 | 33.2% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.5%26.5–32.4 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.8 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 6.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.2–10.3 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.6–4.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.2%12.5–18.5 | 16.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.3%11.6–17 | 12% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.6%26.9–36.4 | 22.2% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%11–15.5 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%29.8–39.5 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.3%13.2–19.5 | 10.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73%69.5–76.4 | 74.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.1%56.6–63.5 | 66.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.4%76.8–82 | 81.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%69.7–75.9 | 70.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%59.5–68.3 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70%62.4–77.1 | 69.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%20.4–26.8 | 23.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.7%27.1–34.8 | 29.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.3%18.5–24.6 | 19.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.3%15.3–21.6 | 12.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.7%11.7–16.1 | 10.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.8%7.6–10.2 | 6.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.8%8.4–11.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.8%11.2–16.7 | 8.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.1%34.5–43.7 | 34.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.5%16.6–22.4 | 14.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%15.8–21 | 16% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 9.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.1–8 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.2–12.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.3–5.8 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Idaho figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Buhl
Is Buhl a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buhl is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #52 of 59 in Idaho. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Buhl?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.3% and 39.5%, against 32.1% across Idaho and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Buhl?
St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls, 15.1 miles in a straight line from Buhl’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Buhl have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.2–19.5%), against 10.7% across Idaho.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Buhl more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buhl.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Idaho 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.