Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0Bel-Ridge’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Bel-Ridge differs from Missouri on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bel-Ridge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bel-Ridge
Making ends meet is harder in Bel-Ridge
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (38.4%), 3 times the Missouri rate. Utility shut-off threats (26.7% vs 9%) and housing insecurity (32.3% vs 12.1%) are higher too. 38.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Bel-Ridge
43% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 35.9% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
Bel-Ridge is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Bel-Ridge is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Bel-Ridge adults live with a disability
1 in 2 adults live with a disability (47.7%, vs 36.2% across Missouri). The biggest difference is vision loss: 10.8% vs 5.1%. Disability ↓
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 Bel-Ridge’s likely range.
What’s behind Bel-Ridge’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bel-Ridge is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Bel-Ridge’s estimates fall in the lowest 5% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 25.4% of adults, against 16% across Missouri and 11.8% nationally.
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). Bel-Ridge’s median household income is $38,049; among the 1,892 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Bel-Ridge compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.2% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.1% (U.S. 15.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
38.5% of Bel-Ridge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bel-Ridge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bel-Ridge adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Out of every 100 Bel-Ridge adults…
Bel-Ridge runs below MO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Bel-Ridge residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Bel-Ridge
No hospital or community health center in Bel-Ridge 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 Bel-Ridge; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Bel-Ridge adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Bel-Ridge runs above Missouri.
2 in 5 Bel-Ridge 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.
Bel-Ridge and the towns around it
Bel-Ridge’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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.
Every CDC estimate for Bel-Ridge
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bel-Ridge is better than Missouri on 2 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Bel-Ridge’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bel-Ridge | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.4%31.1–37.9 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.8–20.8 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.3%20.2–24.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.2%42–50.7 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.9%17.8–22.1 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.7%45.8–51.9 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%33–38.9 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.3%28.8–34 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.8%12.4–15.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7.1–8.7 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11%9.8–12.4 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 35.9%30.7–41.6 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.4%22.5–28.6 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 43.2%39.2–47.5 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.1%10.3–14 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.7%41.2–50.3 | 36.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14%11.7–16.6 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%78–83 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 43%39.4–46.6 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.8%79.6–83.9 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.3%77.1–81.5 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.6%55.8–65.3 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%68.5–81.7 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%20.4–25.8 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.3%36.7–44.4 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.4%26.9–34.1 | 20.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 38.4%34.1–42.7 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 32.3%28.9–35.8 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 26.7%24–29.6 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 20.9%18.6–23.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 38.5%34.4–42.7 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.7%43.9–51.6 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.9%22.5–27.7 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.1%21.6–26.8 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.3–7.9 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 10.8%9.7–12 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.1%14.4–18 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 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 Bel-Ridge
Is Bel-Ridge a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bel-Ridge is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bel-Ridge?
CDC estimates 46.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 42% and 50.7%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bel-Ridge?
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis in Saint Louis, 5.5 miles in a straight line from Bel-Ridge’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bel-Ridge have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.7–16.6%), 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 Bel-Ridge more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bel-Ridge.
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.