Photo: 25or6to4 · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Independence is healthier than 75%
Independence trails Kansas on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Independence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Independence
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Independence
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. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.6%, vs 6.4% across Kansas. In all, Independence runs above Kansas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Independence
59.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.9% across Kansas. Among those 65 and older, 14.9% have lost all their teeth (Kansas 11.3%). Checkups ↓
Independence is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Independence is healthier than 38%. Against the 6,144 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 75%. 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 Independence’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Independence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #106 of 150 in Kansas. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 51% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 33%).
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). Independence’s median household income is $51,069; among the 6,144 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 75%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Independence adults…
Independence runs above KS on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
Care in and near Independence
1 community health center in Independence, 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 Independence; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Independence adults are doing
About the same as Kansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Independence 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.
9.5% of Independence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Independence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | C+ | 38.1% | 12.8% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Independence Township | C+ | 37.9% | 13% | 16.5% | ZIP 67301 |
| Sycamore Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Drum Creek Township | — | — | — | — |
Sycamore Township: not graded. Drum Creek 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 Independence adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Independence
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Independence is better than Kansas on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Independence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Independence | KS | U.S. | vs KS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%17.8–23.2 | 18% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.4–15.9 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.3–19.3 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%31.6–45 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11.1–14.6 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.5%34.7–42.5 | 34.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%34–42.3 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.2%27.1–33.6 | 25.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.9%12.2–17.9 | 11.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%14.2–19.1 | 14% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.7%23.4–32.2 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.8–18.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.2%31.6–43.3 | 34.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%8.5–11.7 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.3–80.1 | 76.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.6%55.9–63.1 | 64.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82.1–85.9 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77.3–82.1 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61%56–65.9 | 63.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70%61.7–77.6 | 74.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%18.4–24.9 | 20.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%27.8–37 | 30.9% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.9–25.4 | 21.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%13–17.5 | 13% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.2%10.5–14 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.5%8.4–10.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%8.1–11.2 | 7.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.5%30.2–38.8 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.2%14.2–18.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14.2–17.9 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5–6.1 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 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 Independence
Is Independence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #106 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 Independence?
CDC estimates 38.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 45%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Independence?
Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, 12.7 miles in a straight line from Independence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Independence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–11.7%), 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 Independence 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 Independence.
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.