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Canton downtown, Fourth between Lewis and ClarkPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
≈ B−Health Grade
Health in Canton · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Canton is healthier than 85%

Canton differs from Missouri on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 5 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Canton. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Canton

Canton is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Canton is healthier than 53%. Against the 7,526 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 85%. Health Grade ↓

Canton is behind on routine checkups

It trails Missouri on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (73% vs 78.4%), dentist visits (56% vs 60.4%) and cholesterol checks (74.2% vs 84.5%). Checkups ↓

Diabetes and cancer are less common in Canton

Canton runs below Missouri on seven chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (8.2% vs 12.1%), cancer (6% vs 8.6%) and arthritis (21% vs 28.8%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (Missouri 18%). Conditions ↓

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 Canton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Canton’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Canton is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, #78 of 247 in Missouri. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).

B−Self-rated health19.7% · MO 20.5% · U.S. 19.4%
B+Physical distress13.2% · MO 14.2% · U.S. 13%
D−Mental distress21.7% · MO 17.5% · U.S. 15.9%
B+Obesity32.3% · MO 36.6% · U.S. 32.9%
A+Diabetes8.2% · MO 12.1% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking15.4% smoke · MO 16% · U.S. 11.8%
C+Exercise27.5% · MO 28.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 53%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (247)Healthier than 68%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $42K–$69K (7,526)Healthier than 85%

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). Canton’s median household income is $55,357; among the 7,526 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 85%, more than its income alone would suggest.

Few Missouri towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Canton is healthier than 68% of graded towns, against 53% nationally.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Canton could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Canton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.

73%Yearly checkupMO 78%
56%Dentist visitMO 60%
74%Cholesterol checkMO 85%
60%Colon screeningMO 64%
72%MammogramMO 75%
69%Taking BP medsMO 77%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Canton 9.5% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Canton adults…

Canton runs below MO on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

8 of every 100 Canton adults have diabetes
Missouri: 12 in 100 · better · likely 7–9.6%
Better than MOWorseAbout the sameMissouri
Why age matters in Canton

Only 13% of Canton residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.

Residents 65 and older

Canton13%
Missouri18%
Getting care

Care in and near Canton

No hospital or community health center in Canton itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERBlessing HospitalQuincy · 15 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyBlessing Hospital★★★★★ · 15.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSouthern Illinois University School of MedicineQuincy · 14.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
14.9 mi
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
3 sites · nearest in Quincy
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
15 mi
Blessing Hospital
Quincy · ★★★★★
ER
15.3 mi
Preferred Family Healthcare, Incorporated
3 sites · nearest in Quincy
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
29.2 mi
Memorial Hospital
Carthage · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
30.6 mi
Hannibal Regional Hospital
Hannibal · ★★★★★
ER
40.9 mi
Scotland County Hospital
Memphis · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Canton itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Canton itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Canton itself

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 Canton; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri

Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.

Get no exercise 27.5%MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 38.4%MO 36.5%
Binge drink 18.9%MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 15.4%MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Canton, betterCanton, worseAbout the sameMissouri
Where Canton gets moving

0.5 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Canton adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Canton runs above Missouri.

4 in 10Canton adults feel lonely
36.4% · MO 31.7% · About the same as MO
1 in 5Canton adults lack social or emotional support
20.9% · MO 20.1% · About the same as MO
3 in 10Canton adults have been diagnosed with depression
28% · MO 24.3% · About the same as MO
1 in 5Canton adults are in frequent mental distress
21.7% · MO 17.5% · Worse than MO
The one neighbors can help with

4 in 10 Canton adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Canton adults worry about having enough food
14.8% · MO 13.7%
About the same as MO
1 in 9
Canton adults worry about keeping their housing
11.7% · MO 12.1%
About the same as MO
1 in 12
Canton adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.1% · MO 9%
About the same as MO
1 in 10
Canton adults lack reliable transportation
9.9% · MO 8.4%
About the same as MO

10.6% of Canton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.

Around town

Canton and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Lima Township: 38.1%Ursa Township: 37.8%Mendon Township: 37.6%Rocky Run-Wilcox Township: 37.8%Keene Township: 38.1%Walker Township: 37.6%St. Albans Township: 40.8%La Grange: 38%Riverside Township: 36.5%Canton: 32.3%CantonLima TownshipUrsa Township
Healthier than MONear MOLess healthy
Obesity
#1 of 10 towns on this map, healthiest first
Canton32.3%
Ursa Township37.8%
Lima Township38.1%
MO36.6%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
CantonB−32.3%8.2%15.4%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

37.1%

of Canton adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs12.4%
Thinking or memory22.1%
Hearing7%
Errands alone10.4%
Vision4.8%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Missouri

Every CDC estimate for Canton

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Canton is better than Missouri on 7 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Canton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…CantonMOU.S.vs MO
Overall health
Fair or poor health19.7%16.1–24.220.5%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.2%11.3–15.514.2%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)21.7%18.2–2517.5%15.9%Worse
Conditions
Obesity32.3%25.2–40.436.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes8.2%7–9.612.1%12%Better
High blood pressure26.9%23.6–30.636.5%34.4%Better
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)29.4%25.8–33.437.5%37.1%Better
Arthritis21%18.6–23.628.8%25.3%Better
Asthma11.1%9.7–12.710.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer6%5.4–6.78.6%7.9%Better
Coronary heart disease5.1%4.5–5.86.8%6.4%Better
COPD6.9%5.7–8.18%6.3%About the same
Stroke2.7%2.4–3.13.6%3.4%Better
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)17.8%14.5–21.515.8%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.4%12.3–18.816%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work27.5%22.3–33.728.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18.9%15.4–22.616.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours38.4%31.2–45.936.5%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)9.5%6.7–13.48.7%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year73%68.2–77.378.4%77.4%Worse
Dentist visit in the past year56%51.9–59.960.4%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years74.2%69–78.984.5%87.1%Worse
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)69.3%66.8–71.977.2%76.5%Worse
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)59.5%53.8–64.764%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)71.8%62.7–79.474.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression28%23.9–32.624.3%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely36.4%30.4–42.431.7%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support20.9%16.7–25.220.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food14.8%10.8–19.713.7%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing11.7%9.1–14.512.1%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off8.1%6.6–9.79%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation9.9%7.8–12.48.4%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)10.6%7.9–13.910.8%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability37.1%31.1–43.936.2%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs12.4%10.4–14.415.8%13.6%Lower
Difficulty concentrating or remembering22.1%17.8–2717.2%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty7%6.2–88.3%6.7%Lower
Vision difficulty4.8%4–5.85.1%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone10.4%8.3–12.99.2%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.2%2.7–3.83.9%3.8%Lower

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 Canton

Is Canton a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Canton is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #78 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 Canton?

CDC estimates 32.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.2% and 40.4%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Canton?

Blessing Hospital in Quincy, 15.0 miles in a straight line from Canton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Canton have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–13.4%), 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 Canton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Canton.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.