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–Not graded
Health in Ames · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Ames residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ames, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 66901. How CDC estimates town health

Fair or poor health
19.8%
About the same as KS (18%)
Obesity
41.6%
About the same as KS (36.5%)
No exercise
29.6%
About the same as KS (25.6%)
Uninsured
9.1%
About the same as KS (9.9%)
Feel lonely
30.7%
About the same as KS (30.9%)
Nearest ER
11.2 mi
Cloud County Health Center
What stands out

What stands out about health in Ames

8.6%have COPD · KS 6.7%
★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Ames adults…

Ames runs above KS on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Ames adults have COPD
Kansas: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 7.6–9.8%
Better than KSWorseAbout the sameKansas
Getting care

Care in and near Ames

No hospital or community health center in Ames itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERCloud County Health CenterConcordia · 11.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyRepublic County Hospital★★★★★ · 19.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careKonza Prairie Community Health CenterChapman · 47.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
11.2 mi
Cloud County Health Center
Concordia · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
19.9 mi
Republic County Hospital
Belleville · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
21.3 mi
Clay County Medical Center
Clay Center · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
27.5 mi
Washington County Hospital
Washington · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
47.3 mi
Konza Prairie Community Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Chapman
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
51.8 mi
Salina Health Education Foundation
2 sites · nearest in Salina
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Ames itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Ames itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Ames itself

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 Ames; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Kansas

Share of adults, with the Kansas figure marked.

Get no exercise 29.6%KS 25.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.4%KS 34.3%
Binge drink 15.6%KS 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 16%KS 14%
0%10%20%30%40%
Ames, betterAmes, worseAbout the sameKansas
Where Ames gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Ames adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.

77%Yearly checkupKS 77%
60%Dentist visitKS 65%
83%Cholesterol checkKS 84%
64%Colon screeningKS 64%
74%MammogramKS 75%
79%Taking BP medsKS 78%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Ames 9.1% · Kansas 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection

How Ames adults are doing

About the same as Kansas on each measure.

3 in 10Ames adults feel lonely
30.7% · KS 30.9% · About the same as KS
1 in 5Ames adults lack social or emotional support
21.2% · KS 21.1% · About the same as KS
1 in 4Ames adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.3% · KS 20.8% · About the same as KS
1 in 6Ames adults are in frequent mental distress
17.5% · KS 16% · About the same as KS
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Ames adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Ames adults worry about having enough food
13.2% · KS 13%
About the same as KS
1 in 9
Ames adults worry about keeping their housing
10.9% · KS 11.2%
About the same as KS
1 in 12
Ames adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.3% · KS 8.2%
About the same as KS
1 in 13
Ames adults lack reliable transportation
7.5% · KS 7.1%
About the same as KS

8.3% of Ames adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.

Around town

Ames and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

35.3%

of Ames adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.2%
Thinking or memory16.1%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone9.1%
Vision5.1%
Dressing or bathing4.1%
Kansas

Questions about health in Ames

Why doesn’t Ames have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ames.

What hospital is closest to Ames?

Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, 11.2 miles in a straight line from Ames’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ames.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kansas 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.