Photo: Palbert01 · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Palco residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Palco, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Palco. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Palco
Cancer, COPD and arthritis run high in Palco
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11%), vs 8.1% across Kansas. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.9%), vs 6.7% across Kansas. Arthritis is also above the state: 33.6%, vs 25.5% across Kansas. In all, Palco runs above Kansas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Palco, and more people treating it
40.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Kansas 34.4%), but 82.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
Palco is short on primary care and mental health care
Palco’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Fewer Palco adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Kansas. 1 in 11 adults worry about keeping their housing, vs 1 in 9 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 Palco’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Palco adults…
Palco runs below KS on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Palco adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
Care in and near Palco
No hospital or community health center in Palco 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 Palco; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.3% of Palco adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
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 Palco adults are doing
About the same as Kansas on each measure.
3 in 10 Palco 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.
Palco and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Palco adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Palco
Why doesn’t Palco have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Palco.
What hospital is closest to Palco?
Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, 14.2 miles in a straight line from Palco’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Palco.
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. 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.