Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Branson is healthier than 57%
Branson trails Missouri on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Branson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Branson
Branson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Branson is healthier than 27%. Against the 6,451 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 57%. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Branson
1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 6.8% across Missouri. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.8%), vs 8% across Missouri. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.6% across Missouri. In all, Branson runs above Missouri on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Branson has a top-rated hospital
Cox Medical Center Branson is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Branson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Branson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Branson is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns, #133 of 247 in Missouri. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 54% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). Branson’s median household income is $51,978; among the 6,451 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 57%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Missouri towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Branson is healthier than 46% of graded towns, against 27% nationally.
Out of every 100 Branson adults…
Branson runs above MO on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Branson
1 hospital in Branson, 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 Branson; ≈ 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.
29 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Branson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Branson adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
3 in 10 Branson 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.
11.8% of Branson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Branson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Branson adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Branson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Branson is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Branson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Branson | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%20.3–26 | 20.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.2–19.2 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%28.2–43.7 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8%12–15.7 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%35.9–44.5 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%35.3–44.3 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.1%29.6–36.6 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.4–11.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.8%8.7–10.9 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4–4.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.1%14.9–21.5 | 15.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%14.3–18.9 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 32%27.2–36.7 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.5–17 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%30.3–44.1 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%8.9–12.1 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.7–82.5 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56%52.1–59.8 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.8–86.5 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%76.9–82 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64%58.7–69.2 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72%63.5–79.6 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.3–27.6 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.4%25.5–35.7 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.3%16.2–22.6 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%12.6–17.2 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.2–13.8 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.7–10.2 | 9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.8%10–13.7 | 10.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.8%36.2–45.3 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.3%17–21.6 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%16–20 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.3–11.6 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.6 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5 | 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 Branson
Is Branson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Branson is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #133 of 247 in Missouri. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Branson?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.2% and 43.7%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Branson?
Cox Medical Center Branson in Branson, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Branson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Branson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.9–12.1%), 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 Branson 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 Branson.
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.