Photo: Keith Snyder · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Butler is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Butler trails Missouri on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Butler. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Butler
Dental care lags in Butler
42.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 34.7% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Butler
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14%), vs 8% across Missouri. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.5%), vs 3.6% across Missouri. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.2%, vs 6.8% across Missouri. In all, Butler runs above Missouri on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Butler is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Butler is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Butler adults live with a disability
1 in 2 adults live with a disability (48.1%, vs 36.2% across Missouri). The biggest difference is vision loss: 8.9% 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 Butler’s likely range.
What’s behind Butler’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Butler is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #237 of 247 in Missouri. All seven of Butler’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 25.2% 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). Butler’s median household income is $42,151; among the 3,088 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Butler adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Out of every 100 Butler adults…
Butler runs above MO on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Butler adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Care in and near Butler
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Butler, 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 Butler; ≈ 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.
1.8 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Butler adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Butler runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Butler 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.
23.2% of Butler adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Butler and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler | D− | 44.4% | 16.3% | 25.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Butler
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Butler is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Butler’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Butler | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.3%26.9–35.7 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.2–22.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.6–23.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.4%35.9–53 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.3%14.1–18.6 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.3%39–47.7 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.5%36–45 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.6%31.1–38.2 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.2%9–11.5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14%12–16.2 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.5%4.9–6.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 34.7%29.6–39.9 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.2%21.1–29.3 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.8%34.6–47.1 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.5–17.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.4%35.4–49.4 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.9%10.2–16 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%74–81.2 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 42.6%38.6–46.5 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.7%77–82.2 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.8–80.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.8%51.2–62.3 | 64% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 64.7%55.3–73.1 | 74.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.8%23.9–32 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.1%26.8–37.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21%17.4–24.8 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.5%19.4–27.9 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%14.2–19.9 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14%11.9–16.2 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.1%11.2–15.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.2%19.3–27.3 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.1%42.6–53.5 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.5%21.3–27.7 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.8%20.7–27 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12.3%10.9–13.8 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%7.8–10.2 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.9%12.9–17.1 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.8%5.8–7.8 | 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 Butler
Is Butler a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Butler is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #237 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 7%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Butler?
CDC estimates 44.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.9% and 53%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Butler?
Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Butler’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Butler have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.2–16%), 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 Butler more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Butler.
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.