Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Buffalo is healthier than 56%
Buffalo differs from Missouri on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buffalo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buffalo
Dental care lags in Buffalo
50.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 26.4% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Buffalo
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.6%), vs 8% across Missouri. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 6.8% across Missouri. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.6% across Missouri. In all, Buffalo runs above Missouri on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Buffalo adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.9%), vs 28.8% across Missouri. Habits ↓
Buffalo is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Buffalo is healthier than 12%. Against the 2,363 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 56%. 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 Buffalo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Buffalo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buffalo is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #181 of 247 in Missouri. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 35% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Buffalo’s median household income is $39,896; among the 2,363 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 56%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Buffalo compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Out of every 100 Buffalo adults…
Buffalo runs above MO on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Buffalo
1 community health center in Buffalo, 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 Buffalo; ≈ 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).
How Buffalo adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
3 in 10 Buffalo 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.
14.5% of Buffalo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Buffalo and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | D | 38.1% | 14.5% | 19.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buffalo adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Buffalo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buffalo is better than Missouri on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Buffalo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Buffalo | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.8%21.7–30.5 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.1–20.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.2–21.1 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%29.8–47 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.5%12.4–16.9 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.8%36.2–45.5 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.4%34.8–44.2 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.2%30.5–38.2 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.1–10.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.6%9.6–14 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.2–5.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.4%22–31.2 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.8%16.1–23.6 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.9%29–41.3 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%11.8–17.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6%32.5–47 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.4%8–13.3 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%75.1–82.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.5%46.5–54.4 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%80.5–85.6 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%77.3–82.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.6%58.4–68.7 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.4%58.2–75.7 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%21.9–30 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.8%25.8–36.6 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.3%16–23.2 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.8%13.5–20.9 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.8%10.5–15.6 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8.3–11.8 | 9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.8%8.3–11.6 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.5%11.5–18.1 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.7%38.1–49.6 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.3%18.1–25.1 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.3%17.2–23.5 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.7%10.2–13.4 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7%5.9–8.3 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%10.2–14.5 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.5–6.4 | 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 Buffalo
Is Buffalo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buffalo is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #181 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 Buffalo?
CDC estimates 38.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 47%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Buffalo?
Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, 17.8 miles in a straight line from Buffalo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Buffalo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–13.3%), 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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo.
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.