Photo: JonHarder · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Hesston is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Hesston differs from Kansas on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hesston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hesston
Hesston keeps up with checkups
It beats Kansas on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (80.2% vs 76.6%) and dentist visits (71.7% vs 64.9%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Hesston
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11%), vs 8.1% across Kansas. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Kansas 17%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Hesston adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Kansas. 1 in 12 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Hesston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Hesston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hesston is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #37 of 150 in Kansas. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 89% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 55%.
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). Hesston’s median household income is $75,225; among the 10,845 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$94K), it’s healthier than 91%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Hesston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
Out of every 100 Hesston adults…
Hesston runs below KS on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Hesston is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Kansas. Cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Hesston as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.5% of Hesston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Care in and near Hesston
No hospital or community health center in Hesston 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 Hesston; ≈ 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.
4.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Hesston adults are doing
About the same as Kansas on each measure.
3 in 10 Hesston 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.
Hesston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hesston | A− | 33.5% | 11.3% | 10.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hesston adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hesston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hesston is better than Kansas on 12 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Hesston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hesston | KS | U.S. | vs KS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.4%12.5–18.7 | 18% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10–13.8 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.1–16.2 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.5%27.7–39.7 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.3%9.6–13.2 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.4%31.6–39.3 | 34.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%34.5–42.6 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.2–31.7 | 25.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%9.8–12.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 6.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.6%5.2–8.2 | 6.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%2.9–4.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.2%6.6–10 | 11.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.9%8.4–13.7 | 14% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24.9%20.3–29.7 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.5–17.6 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.9%27.1–37 | 34.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%5.3–9.3 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%77–83 | 76.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.7%68.6–74.7 | 64.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.5%85.4–89.4 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%79.2–84 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.3%68–76.3 | 63.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%67.1–80.5 | 74.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.5%16.7–22.7 | 20.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.5%23.8–33 | 30.9% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.3%15.8–22.7 | 21.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.5%6.3–10.8 | 13% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.5%5.8–9.2 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.4–6.6 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4–6.1 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.5%3.2–6 | 7.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6%25.1–34.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%11.2–17 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.3%10.3–14.6 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%7.7–10.4 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.2–4.8 | 4.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%5.6–8.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.5–3.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Hesston
Is Hesston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hesston is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: ≈ A− for health, #37 of 150 in Kansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 91%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hesston?
CDC estimates 33.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.7% and 39.7%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hesston?
NMC Health in Newton, 9.6 miles in a straight line from Hesston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hesston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–9.3%), 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 Hesston more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hesston.
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.