Berry Cemetery · Photo: Brian Sims · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ash Grove is healthier than 68%
Ash Grove differs from Missouri on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ash Grove. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ash Grove
Cancer runs high in Ash Grove
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.1%), vs 8.6% across Missouri. Conditions ↓
Ash Grove is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ash Grove is healthier than 42%. Against the 8,415 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 68%. 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 Missouri figure falls outside Ash Grove’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Ash Grove’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ash Grove is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 57% of U.S. towns); physical distress 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). Ash Grove’s median household income is $58,250; among the 8,415 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 68%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Ash Grove adults…
Ash Grove runs below MO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ash Grove
No hospital or community health center in Ash Grove 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 Ash Grove; ≈ 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 Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ash Grove adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Ash Grove adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
1 in 3 Ash Grove 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.
9.1% of Ash Grove adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Ash Grove and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ash Grove | C+ | 36.2% | 11.6% | 15.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ash Grove adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ash Grove
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ash Grove is better than Missouri on 2 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Ash Grove’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ash Grove | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%16.9–23.8 | 20.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.1–17.5 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.2–19.9 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%30.3–42.6 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%9.9–13.3 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%32.1–39.6 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.8–41.8 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.2%29–35.5 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.4–8.5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.8%7.2–10.6 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.3–4.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.3%9.9–14.7 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.8%12.7–18.9 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.2%22.4–32.2 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12.3–17.5 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1%30.9–41.4 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.3–10.5 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%75.6–82.2 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.7%58.2–64.9 | 60.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%82.7–87.5 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.5–81.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%58.9–68.5 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.9%65.3–79.6 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.1–28 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.6%26.9–36.6 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.7%15.6–22.2 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12%9.4–15.1 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.2%8.3–12.4 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.5%6.2–8.9 | 9% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.2–8.9 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.1%7–11.6 | 10.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.5%33.6–43.3 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%14.3–20.1 | 15.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.6%15.1–20.3 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.5%8.3–10.7 | 8.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.2–5.9 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8–11.2 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.2–4.5 | 3.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Missouri figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ash Grove
Is Ash Grove a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ash Grove is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ash Grove?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 42.6%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ash Grove?
Cox Medical Centers in Springfield, 17.5 miles in a straight line from Ash Grove’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ash Grove have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–10.5%), against 8.7% across Missouri.
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 Ash Grove more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ash Grove.
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. 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.