Photo: Kaethesson · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Columbus is healthier than 78%
Columbus differs from Kansas on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Columbus
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.6%), vs 6.7% across Kansas. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.3%), vs 3.2% across Kansas. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.4%, vs 6.4% across Kansas. In all, Columbus runs above Kansas on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Columbus
56.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.9% across Kansas. Among those 65 and older, 17.1% have lost all their teeth (Kansas 11.3%). Checkups ↓
In Columbus, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 9.4% of working-age adults are uninsured (Kansas 9.9%), yet 22.3% say their health is fair or poor, vs 18% across the state. Checkups ↓
Columbus is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Columbus is healthier than 22%. Against the 1,862 towns with similar household incomes ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 78%. 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 Kansas figure falls outside Columbus’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Columbus’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns, #136 of 150 in Kansas. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 40% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Columbus’ median household income is $37,961; among the 1,862 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 78%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Columbus compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Columbus adults…
Columbus runs above KS on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
Care in and near Columbus
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Columbus, 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 Columbus; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Kansas
Share of adults, with the Kansas figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Columbus adults are doing
About the same as Kansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Columbus 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.
10% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Columbus 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | C− | 43% | 12.9% | 18.1% | CDC place |
| Salamanca Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Crawford Township | — | — | — | — |
Salamanca Township and Crawford Township: 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 Columbus adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbus
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbus is better than Kansas on 1 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Columbus’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbus | KS | U.S. | vs KS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.3%18.9–26.3 | 18% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.3–17.7 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.4–19.9 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43%35.7–50.7 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11.1–15 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.3%34.1–42.3 | 34.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%34.4–42.9 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.3–35.2 | 25.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.6–10.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.3–9.6 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.6%8–11.5 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.7–4.9 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.1%13.9–20.6 | 11.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%15–21.5 | 14% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.8%25.7–36.2 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%11.9–17.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%30.1–43 | 34.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.4%7.3–11.9 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.5–81.3 | 76.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.4%52.4–60.2 | 64.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.2–85.9 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.7–82.6 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.7%53–64 | 63.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.2%64.7–80.5 | 74.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%19.4–26.4 | 20.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%26.2–36.3 | 30.9% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%17.7–24.9 | 21.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.1%12.1–18.4 | 13% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%9.5–14 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%7.8–10.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.4%7.1–9.9 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10%7.9–12.4 | 7.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.2%33.1–43.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%15.3–21.1 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%14.4–19.5 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5–6.8 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.6–11.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%3.9–5.4 | 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 Kansas figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Columbus
Is Columbus a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #136 of 150 in Kansas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbus?
CDC estimates 43% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.7% and 50.7%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbus?
Mercy Hospital Columbus in Columbus, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Columbus’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Columbus have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–11.9%), 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 Columbus 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 Columbus.
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.