Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Wichita as a whole is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns
Wichita differs from Kansas on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wichita. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wichita
More Wichita adults lack emotional support
1 in 4 adults lack social or emotional support (25.2%), vs 21.1% across Kansas. Loneliness is above the state too: 34.5%, vs 30.9% across Kansas. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Wichita
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.9%), vs 13% across Kansas. Utility shut-off threats (11.6% vs 8.2%) and housing insecurity (15.4% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 12% of adults receive SNAP, vs 7.4% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Wichita is behind on routine checkups
It trails Kansas on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (73.3% vs 76.6%), dentist visits (60.7% vs 64.9%) and cholesterol checks (81.7% vs 84.1%). Checkups ↓
Wichita has six hospitals within its borders
6 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Wichita. Wesley Medical Center 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 Wichita’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind Wichita’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wichita is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns, #110 of 150 in Kansas. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 61% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 25%).
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). Wichita’s median household income is $64,620; among the 9,859 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
At 400,987 residents, Wichita is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
How Wichita adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Wichita runs above Kansas.
1 in 3 Wichita 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.
12% of Wichita adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Care in and near Wichita
6 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Wichita.
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 Wichita; ≈ 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 Wichita adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
Out of every 100 Wichita adults…
Wichita runs below KS on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kansas
Share of adults, with the Kansas figure marked.
103 miles of trails across 103 parks and preserves
Wichita and the towns around it
Wichita’s Health Grade ranks 9th of 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | C+ | 39.5% | 12.6% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Minneha Township | A | 34.1% | 10.6% | 10.7% | ZIP codes |
| Riverside Township | C | 39.7% | 12.6% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
| Waco Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Attica Township | A− | 35.5% | 9.4% | 12.2% | ZIP codes |
| Park Township | A− | 35.4% | 9.5% | 12% | ZIP codes |
| Kechi Township | B− | 39.5% | 12.1% | 15.3% | ZIP codes |
| Gypsum Township | B | 36.8% | 10.9% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
Waco 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 Wichita adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wichita
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wichita is better than Kansas on 1 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Wichita’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wichita | KS | U.S. | vs KS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.7%19.8–23.7 | 18% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%12.2–14.9 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%16.1–19.5 | 16% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%35.9–43.1 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%11.3–14 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35%32.5–37.6 | 34.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%33.7–39.1 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.7%22.8–26.8 | 25.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.6–7.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%6–7.2 | 6.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.4%6.8–8.2 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.3–3.8 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%11.5–15.9 | 11.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14.6–18 | 14% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.9%25.3–30.8 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%13.5–17.6 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8%34.7–41 | 34.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.9%11.6–14.5 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.3%70.5–76 | 76.6% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.7%58–63.2 | 64.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.7%79.9–83.4 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%75.1–79.6 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.7%59.3–66 | 63.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.3%67.2–77.1 | 74.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%20.5–25.3 | 20.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%31.4–37.6 | 30.9% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%22.6–27.9 | 21.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%17–20.8 | 13% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.4%13.8–17.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.6%10.3–12.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.6–10.6 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12%10.7–13.5 | 7.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.3%29.6–35.1 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%13.6–16.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.8–17.8 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.4–6.3 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8.3–10 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%4–4.7 | 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 Wichita
Is Wichita a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wichita is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #110 of 150 in Kansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wichita?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.9% and 43.1%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wichita?
Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita in Wichita, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Wichita’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wichita have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.6–14.5%), 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 Wichita more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wichita.
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.