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Hiawatha National Guard ArmoryHiawatha National Guard Armory · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0
≈ C+Health Grade
Health in Hiawatha · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Hiawatha is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns

Hiawatha differs from Kansas on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 6 worse.

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Hiawatha

COPD, stroke and arthritis run high in Hiawatha

1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.5%), vs 6.7% across Kansas. 1 in 25 adults have had a stroke (4%), vs 3.2% across Kansas. Arthritis is also above the state: 31.8%, vs 25.5% across Kansas. In all, Hiawatha runs above Kansas on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

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

39.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Kansas 34.4%), but 80.5% 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 Hiawatha’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Hiawatha’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hiawatha is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns, #100 of 150 in Kansas. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 58% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 32%).

B−Self-rated health19.2% · KS 18% · U.S. 19.4%
B−Physical distress14.1% · KS 12.3% · U.S. 13%
BMental distress16.6% · KS 16% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity38.5% · KS 36.5% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes12.4% · KS 11.4% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking16.5% smoke · KS 14% · U.S. 11.8%
CExercise28.3% · KS 25.6% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 42%
Less healthyHealthier
Kansas towns we grade (150)Healthier than 33%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $52K–$86K (10,428)Healthier than 53%

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). Hiawatha’s median household income is $68,750; among the 10,428 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.

Where Hiawatha compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.5% (U.S. 76.5%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Hiawatha could be anywhere from D to A−. The letter shows with “≈”.
A note on the data.property crimes reported to the FBI went from 70 in 2022 to 145 in 2023
A note on the data.property crimes reported to the FBI went from 145 in 2023 to 37 in 2024

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Hiawatha adults…

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

9 of every 100 Hiawatha adults have COPD
Kansas: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 7.2–10%
Better than KSWorseAbout the sameKansas
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

79%Yearly checkupKS 77%
63%Dentist visitKS 65%
86%Cholesterol checkKS 84%
63%Colon screeningKS 64%
71%MammogramKS 75%
81%Taking BP medsKS 78%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Hiawatha 8.6% · Kansas 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Getting care

Care in and near Hiawatha

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

HNearest ERHiawatha Community HospitalHiawatha · 0.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCommunity Medical Center★★★★★ · 17.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNorthwest Health ServicesMound City · 25.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Hiawatha Community Hospital
Hiawatha · ★★★★★
ERRural critical accessIn Hiawatha
14.7 mi
Great Plains of Sabetha
Sabetha · not rated
ERRural critical access
17.9 mi
Community Medical Center
Falls City · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
25.4 mi
Northwest Health Services
6 sites · nearest in Mound City
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
29.3 mi
Atchison Community Health Clinic
2 sites · nearest in Atchison
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
30.3 mi
Amberwell Atchison Association
Atchison · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Hiawatha itself
✓ Dental careHiawatha is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Hiawatha 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 Hiawatha; ≈ 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 28.3%KS 25.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.2%KS 34.3%
Binge drink 14.8%KS 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 16.5%KS 14%
0%10%20%30%40%
Hiawatha, betterHiawatha, worseAbout the sameKansas
Where Hiawatha gets moving

1 mile of trails across 9 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Hiawatha adults are doing

About the same as Kansas on each measure.

3 in 10Hiawatha adults feel lonely
29.8% · KS 30.9% · About the same as KS
1 in 5Hiawatha adults lack social or emotional support
20.9% · KS 21.1% · About the same as KS
1 in 5Hiawatha adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.2% · KS 20.8% · About the same as KS
1 in 6Hiawatha adults are in frequent mental distress
16.6% · KS 16% · About the same as KS
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Hiawatha 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
Hiawatha adults worry about having enough food
12.3% · KS 13%
About the same as KS
1 in 10
Hiawatha adults worry about keeping their housing
10.4% · KS 11.2%
About the same as KS
1 in 13
Hiawatha adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.9% · KS 8.2%
About the same as KS
1 in 15
Hiawatha adults lack reliable transportation
6.8% · KS 7.1%
About the same as KS

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

Around town

Hiawatha and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
HiawathaC+38.5%12.4%16.5%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

33.7%

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

Walking or climbing stairs16.3%
Thinking or memory15%
Hearing9.2%
Errands alone8.6%
Vision4.9%
Dressing or bathing4%
Kansas

Every CDC estimate for Hiawatha

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hiawatha is better than Kansas on 1 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Hiawatha’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…HiawathaKSU.S.vs KS
Overall health
Fair or poor health19.2%16.2–22.518%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)14.1%12.1–16.212.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.6%14.6–18.916%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity38.5%30.1–46.936.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.4%10.6–14.411.4%12%About the same
High blood pressure39.1%34.8–43.534.4%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.4%34–4336.7%37.1%About the same
Arthritis31.8%28.2–35.525.5%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.5%9.2–11.99.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10.1%9–11.28.1%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.9%6.9–96.4%6.4%Worse
COPD8.5%7.2–106.7%6.3%Worse
Stroke4%3.5–4.53.2%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)11.3%9–13.811.3%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.5%13.6–19.614%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work28.3%23.4–33.725.6%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking14.8%12.1–17.816.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.2%26.2–38.734.3%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.6%6.8–10.69.9%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year78.6%75–8276.6%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year63.2%59.5–66.764.9%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.8%83.5–87.884.1%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)80.5%77.7–8377.6%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)63%57.7–6863.5%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)71%62.3–78.674.6%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.2%17.8–24.820.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely29.8%24.8–3530.9%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support20.9%17.5–24.721.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.3%9.9–14.913%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10.4%8.6–12.211.2%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off7.9%6.6–9.28.2%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation6.8%5.8–7.97.1%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)7.4%5.8–9.17.4%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability33.7%29–38.730.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs16.3%13.8–19.113.4%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering15%12.9–17.214.4%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty9.2%8–10.47.4%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.9%4.3–5.64.6%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.6%7.4–107.7%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4%3.4–4.63.5%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 Hiawatha

Is Hiawatha a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hiawatha is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #100 of 150 in Kansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 53%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Hiawatha?

CDC estimates 38.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 46.9%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Hiawatha?

Hiawatha Community Hospital in Hiawatha, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Hiawatha’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Hiawatha have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–10.6%), 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 Hiawatha more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.

Neighbors talk health

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

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.