Photo: Shannon Beat · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Lawrence is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns
Lawrence differs from Kansas on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lawrence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lawrence
Lawrence is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Lawrence is healthier than 79%. Against the 9,931 towns with similar household incomes ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 96%. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Lawrence
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.4%), vs 20.8% across Kansas. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.4%, vs 16% across Kansas. Mind & connection ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Lawrence doesn’t win on
19.3% of adults binge drink, vs 16.3% across Kansas, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and heart disease are less common in Lawrence
Lawrence runs below Kansas on eight chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.9% vs 11.4%), heart disease (4.5% vs 6.4%) and stroke (2.4% vs 3.2%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (Kansas 17%). Conditions ↓
Lawrence has a top-rated hospital
Lmh is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Lawrence’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Lawrence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lawrence is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #35 of 150 in Kansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 27%).
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). Lawrence’s median household income is $65,009; among the 9,931 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 96%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Lawrence adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Lawrence runs above Kansas.
1 in 3 Lawrence 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kansas
Share of adults, with the Kansas figure marked.
46 miles of trails across 51 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Lawrence adults…
Lawrence runs below KS on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Lawrence residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Kansas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Lawrence
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lawrence, 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 Lawrence; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Lawrence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.8% of Lawrence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Lawrence and the towns around it
Lawrence’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | A− | 31.5% | 7.9% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Wakarusa Township | A− | 31.7% | 8.6% | 12.4% | ZIP codes |
| Grant Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Kanwaka Township | A | 31.3% | 9.5% | 11% | ZIP codes |
| Clinton Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Eudora Township | B+ | 33.2% | 9.4% | 14.8% | ZIP codes |
Grant Township and Clinton 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 Lawrence adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lawrence
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lawrence is better than Kansas on 12 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Lawrence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lawrence | KS | U.S. | vs KS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.8%14–17.8 | 18% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.8–12.4 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.6–20.4 | 16% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.5%27.3–36.2 | 36.5% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.9%6.9–9 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.9%23.3–28.7 | 34.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.4%27.5–33.5 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.9%17.9–22.1 | 25.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.8 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.6–6.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%4–4.9 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.5–12.3 | 11.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%10.8–14 | 14% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.7%17–22.8 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.3%16.6–22.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6%28.7–36.7 | 34.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%7.4–9.8 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%72.7–78.9 | 76.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.6%60.6–66.6 | 64.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.5%76.3–80.6 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71%68.5–73.5 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.6%58.5–66.5 | 63.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%66–78.2 | 74.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.5–28.7 | 20.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.4%27.7–35.5 | 30.9% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%18.8–24.6 | 21.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14%12.2–16 | 13% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.3%9.9–13 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%8.2–10.6 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%7.9–10 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.8%7.6–10.2 | 7.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4%26.3–32.8 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.9–18.4 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%4–4.8 | 4.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7.4–9.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Lawrence
Is Lawrence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lawrence is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #35 of 150 in Kansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lawrence?
CDC estimates 31.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.3% and 36.2%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lawrence?
LMH in Lawrence, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Lawrence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lawrence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–9.8%), 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 Lawrence more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lawrence.
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.