Photo: Kbh3rd · CC BY 4.0Where Alton residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Alton, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alton
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Alton
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.8%), vs 8% across Missouri. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 3.6% across Missouri. Heart disease is also above the state: 11.1%, vs 6.8% across Missouri. In all, Alton runs above Missouri on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Alton
49.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Alton’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More Alton adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39%), vs 28.8% across Missouri. Habits ↓
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 Missouri figure falls outside Alton’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Alton adults…
Alton runs above MO on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Alton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
Care in and near Alton
No hospital or community health center in Alton 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 Alton; ≈ 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).
How Alton adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
1 in 3 Alton 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.
17.5% of Alton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Alton 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 Alton adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Alton
Why doesn’t Alton have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Alton.
What hospital is closest to Alton?
Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains, 27.0 miles in a straight line from Alton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alton.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri 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.