Photo: ADKMatthew · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Hill City is healthier than 82%
Hill City differs from Kansas on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hill City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hill City
Heart disease, stroke and cancer run high in Hill City
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.5%), vs 6.4% across Kansas. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.2% across Kansas. Cancer is also above the state: 11.5%, vs 8.1% across Kansas. In all, Hill City runs above Kansas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Hill City, and more people treating it
42.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Kansas 34.4%), but 83.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
Hill City is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Hill City is healthier than 41%. Against the 5,217 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 82%. 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 Hill City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Hill City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hill City is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 77% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). Hill City’s median household income is $48,512; among the 5,217 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 82%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Hill City compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Hill City adults…
Hill City runs above KS on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Hill City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
Care in and near Hill City
1 hospital in Hill City, 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 Hill City; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Hill City adults are doing
About the same as Kansas on each measure.
3 in 10 Hill City 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.
7.3% of Hill City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Hill City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill City | C+ | 36.6% | 13.9% | 15.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hill City adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hill City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hill City is better than Kansas on 2 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Hill City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hill City | KS | U.S. | vs KS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.7%17.3–24.5 | 18% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.5–16.9 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.3–17.5 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.6%28.6–45 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%11.9–16 | 11.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.3%37.8–46.7 | 34.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.5–45.7 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.3%30.5–38.1 | 25.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.5%10.2–12.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.3–11 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.5%7.8–11.4 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%3.9–5.4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20%16.7–24.2 | 11.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%12.2–18.4 | 14% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.1%24.7–35.6 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11–16.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.3%27–40.3 | 34.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.4–10.7 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.6%76–82.7 | 76.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61%57.6–64.9 | 64.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%84.8–88.8 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.3%80.7–85.5 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.8%55.5–66.4 | 63.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69%60.7–77.2 | 74.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%16.9–23.3 | 20.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.2%24.2–34.4 | 30.9% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%16.1–23.1 | 21.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.8%9.3–14.7 | 13% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.4%7.6–11.4 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.1–8.8 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.6%5.5–7.8 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.3%5.5–9.4 | 7.4% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%31.3–41.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.4%15.4–21.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.3–16.7 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.6–6.4 | 4.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.6–10.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 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 Hill City
Is Hill City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hill City is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hill City?
CDC estimates 36.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 45%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hill City?
Graham County Hospital in Hill City, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Hill City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Hill City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–10.7%), 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 Hill City 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 Hill City.
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.