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Rawlin Co KS CourthousePhoto: Smallbones · Public domain
≈ CHealth Grade
Health in Atwood · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Atwood is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns

Atwood differs from Kansas on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 11 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Atwood. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Atwood

Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Atwood

1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 6.4% across Kansas. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.5%), vs 6.7% across Kansas. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.2% across Kansas. In all, Atwood runs above Kansas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Dental care lags in Atwood

59% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.9% across Kansas. Among those 65 and older, 20% have lost all their teeth (Kansas 11.3%). Checkups ↓

More high blood pressure in Atwood, and more people treating it

39.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Kansas 34.4%), but 82.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓

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 Kansas figure falls outside Atwood’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Atwood’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Atwood is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 58% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 12%).

C+Self-rated health21.1% · KS 18% · U.S. 19.4%
C+Physical distress15% · KS 12.3% · U.S. 13%
BMental distress16.6% · KS 16% · U.S. 15.9%
DObesity41.7% · KS 36.5% · U.S. 32.9%
CDiabetes13.8% · KS 11.4% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking16.7% smoke · KS 14% · U.S. 11.8%
C−Exercise30.5% · KS 25.6% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 28%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $54K–$90K (10,684)Healthier than 26%

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). Atwood’s median household income is $72,188; among the 10,684 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Atwood compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.2% (U.S. 76.5%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Atwood could be anywhere from D to B+. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Atwood adults…

Atwood runs above KS on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Atwood adults have heart disease
Kansas: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 8.2–10.6%
Better than KSWorseAbout the sameKansas
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

78%Yearly checkupKS 77%
59%Dentist visitKS 65%
86%Cholesterol checkKS 84%
66%Colon screeningKS 64%
71%MammogramKS 75%
82%Taking BP medsKS 78%
1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Atwood 9.7% · Kansas 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Getting care

Care in and near Atwood

1 hospital in Atwood, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERRawlins County Health CenterAtwood · 0.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSheridan County HospitalSelden · 31.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Rawlins County Health Center
Atwood · not rated
ERRural critical accessIn Atwood
26.8 mi
Decatur Health
Oberlin · not rated
ERRural critical access
29.7 mi
Citizens Medical Center
Colby · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
31.1 mi
Dundy County Hospital
Benkelman · not rated
ERRural critical access
31.2 mi
Sheridan County Hospital
4 sites · nearest in Selden
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
112 mi
First Care Clinic
3 sites · nearest in Hays
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Atwood itself
✓ Dental careAtwood is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Atwood 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 Atwood; ≈ 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 30.5%KS 25.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 36.3%KS 34.3%
Binge drink 14.4%KS 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 16.7%KS 14%
0%10%20%30%40%
Atwood, betterAtwood, worseAbout the sameKansas
Where Atwood gets moving

2.9 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Atwood adults are doing

About the same as Kansas on each measure.

3 in 10Atwood adults feel lonely
28.9% · KS 30.9% · About the same as KS
1 in 5Atwood adults lack social or emotional support
20.4% · KS 21.1% · About the same as KS
1 in 5Atwood adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.3% · KS 20.8% · About the same as KS
1 in 6Atwood adults are in frequent mental distress
16.6% · KS 16% · About the same as KS
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Atwood 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
Atwood adults worry about having enough food
13% · KS 13%
About the same as KS
1 in 9
Atwood adults worry about keeping their housing
10.7% · KS 11.2%
About the same as KS
1 in 12
Atwood adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.3% · KS 8.2%
About the same as KS
1 in 14
Atwood adults lack reliable transportation
7.3% · KS 7.1%
About the same as KS

8.2% of Atwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.

Around town

Atwood and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
AtwoodC41.7%13.8%16.7%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

36.6%

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

Walking or climbing stairs18.1%
Thinking or memory15.3%
Hearing10.8%
Errands alone9.4%
Vision5.5%
Dressing or bathing4.5%
Kansas

Every CDC estimate for Atwood

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Atwood is better than Kansas on 1 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Atwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…AtwoodKSU.S.vs KS
Overall health
Fair or poor health21.1%18.1–24.718%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15%13.1–17.312.3%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.6%14.6–18.816%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity41.7%33.3–50.436.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes13.8%11.8–16.111.4%12%Worse
High blood pressure39.8%35.5–44.234.4%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)39.6%35–44.236.7%37.1%About the same
Arthritis33%29.4–36.825.5%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.3%9.1–11.79.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10.9%9.8–12.18.1%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease9.3%8.2–10.66.4%6.4%Worse
COPD9.5%8.1–11.26.7%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.5%3.9–5.23.2%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)20%16.5–23.611.3%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.7%13.8–20.114%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work30.5%25.4–36.325.6%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking14.4%11.8–17.216.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours36.3%29.6–43.634.3%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)9.7%7.7–12.19.9%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year78.4%74.8–81.676.6%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year59%55.2–62.864.9%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.6%83.5–87.584.1%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)82.2%79.7–84.577.6%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)66.1%60.8–71.263.5%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)71.3%62.5–79.174.6%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.3%18–24.920.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely28.9%23.9–3430.9%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support20.4%16.9–2421.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food13%10.4–15.713%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10.7%8.7–12.611.2%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off8.3%7–9.78.2%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.3%6.2–8.57.1%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)8.2%6.4–10.27.4%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability36.6%31.9–4230.4%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs18.1%15.5–21.113.4%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering15.3%13.3–17.714.4%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty10.8%9.6–12.37.4%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty5.5%4.8–6.44.6%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone9.4%8.1–10.97.7%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.5%3.9–5.23.5%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 Kansas figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Atwood

Is Atwood a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Atwood is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 26%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Atwood?

CDC estimates 41.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.3% and 50.4%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Atwood?

Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Atwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Atwood have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–12.1%), against 9.9% across Kansas.

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 Atwood 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 Atwood.

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. 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.