Gentry County Courthouse · Photo: Americasroof · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Athens Township is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns
Athens Township trails Missouri on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 64402, 64471, 64657. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Athens Township
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Athens Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), vs 8% across Missouri. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 6.8% across Missouri. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.6% across Missouri. In all, Athens Township runs above Missouri on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Athens Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Athens Township is healthier than 17%. Against the 5,493 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 44%. 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 Athens Township’s likely range; Athens Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 64402, 64471, 64657, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Athens Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens Township is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 40% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Athens Township’s median household income is $49,250; among the 5,493 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 44%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Athens Township adults…
Athens Township runs above MO on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Athens Township
1 hospital in Athens Township, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Athens Township; ≈ 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 Athens Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Athens Township adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
3 in 10 Athens Township 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.
11.7% of Athens Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Athens Township and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Township | C− | 40.6% | 13.7% | 18.3% | ZIP codes |
| Cooper Township | C− | 40.2% | 13.2% | 18.7% | ZIP codes |
| Huggins Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Miller Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Howard Township | — | — | — | — | |
| White Oak Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Butler Township | — | — | — | — |
Huggins Township, Miller Township, Howard Township, White Oak Township and Butler 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 Athens Township adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Athens Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Athens Township is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Athens Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Athens Township | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.4%20.1–27.3 | 20.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.3–18.8 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.4–20 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.6%32–49.6 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.7%11.8–15.9 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.4%35.9–44.7 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.1%35.5–44.8 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.2%29.7–37 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.4–12.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%9–12.3 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.2%12.4–18.2 | 15.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.3%15.3–21.7 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 33.1%27.7–39.1 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.1–18.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%30.5–43.7 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.2–11.6 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.1–82.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.2%53.6–61.1 | 60.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%82.4–86.6 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.2–82.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.6%58.4–68.5 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%62.6–78.5 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%20.8–28.5 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.5%25.4–35.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.9%15.8–22.5 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.9%11.2–16.8 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.2–13.2 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.5%7.1–9.9 | 9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.1–9.6 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.7%9.3–14.2 | 10.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.7%35.4–46.2 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.5%16.9–22.5 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%16–21 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.6%9.4–12 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.1–6.8 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.1–12.1 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4–5.4 | 3.9% | 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 Missouri figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Athens Township
Is Athens Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens Township is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Athens Township?
CDC estimates 40.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 32% and 49.6%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Athens Township?
Mosaic Medical Center Albany in Albany, 2.5 miles in a straight line from Athens Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Athens Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–11.6%), 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 Athens Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Athens Township.
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.