On CDC estimates, Ashland is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Ashland differs from Missouri on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ashland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ashland
Binge drinking is the habit Ashland doesn’t win on
20.2% of adults binge drink, vs 16.3% across Missouri, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and heart disease are less common in Ashland
Ashland runs below Missouri on seven chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.8% vs 12.1%), heart disease (4.5% vs 6.8%) and COPD (5.3% vs 8%). Conditions ↓
Ashland is an active town
Only 20.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, 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 Ashland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Ashland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, #19 of 247 in Missouri. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 68%.
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). Ashland’s median household income is $93,143; among the 9,564 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($70K–$116K), it’s healthier than 93%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
0.9 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Ashland adults…
Ashland runs below MO on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ashland
No hospital or community health center in Ashland 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 Ashland; ≈ 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 Ashland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Ashland adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
3 in 10 Ashland 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.
5.6% of Ashland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Ashland and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | A | 28.5% | 7.8% | 11.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ashland adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ashland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ashland is better than Missouri on 19 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Ashland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ashland | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.1%11.8–16.7 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.1%9.5–12.7 | 14.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%13.9–18.1 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.5%23.4–34.2 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.8%6.7–9.1 | 12.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.2%24.8–31.6 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.4%29.6–37.3 | 37.5% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.5%20.8–26.4 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.3%4.4–6.2 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.3%5.9–9.1 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.6%9.2–14.3 | 16% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.4%16.8–24.3 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20.2%16.9–23.6 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.1%29.3–39.2 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%4.9–8.3 | 8.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.4%72.7–79.9 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.2%62–68.5 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%82.6–87.4 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.5%68.9–75.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%59.4–68.8 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%69–82.3 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.8–27.7 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.5%24.1–33.1 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.3%14.2–20.5 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.1%6–10.3 | 13.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.3%6.4–10.2 | 12.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%4.7–6.9 | 9% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%4.7–6.8 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.6%4.1–7.4 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.4%24.3–32.5 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.7%9.1–12.6 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%12.3–16.9 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.4–7 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.7–3.7 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.7–7.8 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.1–2.9 | 3.9% | 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 Missouri figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ashland
Is Ashland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health, #19 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ashland?
CDC estimates 28.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 34.2%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ashland?
Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, 10.4 miles in a straight line from Ashland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ashland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–8.3%), 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 Ashland 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 Ashland.
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.