Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Columbia is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Columbia differs from Illinois on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbia
Columbia keeps up with checkups
It beats Illinois on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (69.8% vs 63.4%) and cholesterol checks (89.1% vs 87.4%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Columbia
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.3%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Conditions ↓
Columbia is an active town
Only 17.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23% across Illinois. 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 Illinois figure falls outside Columbia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Columbia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, #159 of 767 in Illinois. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 92% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 58%.
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). Columbia’s median household income is $107,606; among the 7,527 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$135K), it’s healthier than 82%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
9 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Columbia adults…
Columbia runs below IL on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Columbia
No hospital or community health center in Columbia 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 Columbia; ≈ 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 Columbia adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Columbia does better than Illinois.
3 in 10 Columbia 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.7% of Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Columbia 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 Columbia adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbia is better than Illinois on 14 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Columbia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbia | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.1%11.8–16.5 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.6–12.8 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.2–17.2 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.1%26.9–43.9 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8–10.9 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32%28–36.4 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%31.5–40.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.7%22.4–29.2 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.4–10.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%4.9–6.6 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.4–8.5 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.7%8.8–12.9 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.6%14.1–21.3 | 23% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.7%16.1–23.4 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7%27.6–42.1 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%4.2–6.5 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.9%75–82.4 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.8%66.1–73.1 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.1%87.5–90.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%72.4–79.1 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.9%62.7–72.8 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%66.7–82.2 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%18.2–25.5 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.4%25.5–35.7 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%17.4–24.6 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.4%6.8–10.3 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.7%6.3–9.3 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5%4.2–5.9 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4.4–6 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.7%6.1–9.5 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.3%20.4–28.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.6%8.9–12.5 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.9%9.4–12.6 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.3–7 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%2.9–3.7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.4–3 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Illinois figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Columbia
Is Columbia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health, #159 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 82%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbia?
CDC estimates 35.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.9% and 43.9%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbia?
Mercy Hospital South in Saint Louis, 9.5 miles in a straight line from Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.2–6.5%), against 9.9% across Illinois.
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 Columbia more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbia.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Illinois 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.