Photo: Abe Ezekowitz · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Galena is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Galena trails Kansas on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Galena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Galena
Dental care lags in Galena
54.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.9% across Kansas. Among those 65 and older, 24.1% have lost all their teeth (Kansas 11.3%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Galena
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.8%), 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: 8.5%, vs 6.4% across Kansas. In all, Galena runs above Kansas on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
In Galena, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 9.7% of working-age adults are uninsured (Kansas 9.9%), yet 23.1% say their health is fair or poor, vs 18% across the state. Checkups ↓
Galena is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Galena is healthier than 16%. Against the 5,416 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 42%. 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 Galena’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Galena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Galena is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #146 of 150 in Kansas. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 32% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Galena’s median household income is $49,006; among the 5,416 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Galena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
Out of every 100 Galena adults…
Galena runs above KS on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Galena
No hospital or community health center in Galena 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 Galena; ≈ 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.
1 mile of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Galena adults are doing
About the same as Kansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Galena 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.
11.1% of Galena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Galena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galena | C− | 44.3% | 13.4% | 19.4% | CDC place |
| Garden Township | C− | 44% | 13.4% | 19.4% | ZIP codes |
| Lowell Township | — | — | — | — |
Lowell 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 Galena adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Galena
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Galena is better than Kansas on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Galena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Galena | KS | U.S. | vs KS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%19.7–26.9 | 18% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.7–17.9 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%15.8–20.5 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.3%37.1–52.3 | 36.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.6–15.4 | 11.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%34.7–43 | 34.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%34.3–42.7 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.6%28.3–35.2 | 25.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.4–9.5 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.8%8.3–11.5 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.1%19.9–29 | 11.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.4%16.1–22.9 | 14% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.4%26.3–36.7 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.9–17.5 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%31.1–44.1 | 34.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%7.7–11.9 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.7%74–81.1 | 76.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.6%50.6–58.4 | 64.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.4%80.9–85.6 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%77.2–82.3 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58%52.4–63.3 | 63.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.6%60.4–77.4 | 74.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%19.5–26.7 | 20.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%26.2–36.2 | 30.9% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%18–25.2 | 21.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.2%12.9–19.7 | 13% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.5%10.3–14.9 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.1%8.5–11.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%7.6–10.4 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.1%8.7–13.6 | 7.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.4%33.7–43.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%15.7–21.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.3%15–19.8 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.6–11 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.2–6.9 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%8.9–11.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 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 Galena
Is Galena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Galena is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #146 of 150 in Kansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Galena?
CDC estimates 44.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 52.3%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Galena?
Freeman Health System - Freeman West in Joplin, 6.3 miles in a straight line from Galena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Galena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–11.9%), 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 Galena 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 Galena.
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.