Photo: Maureen Didde from Kansas City, MO, USA · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Carthage is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Carthage trails Missouri on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carthage. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carthage
Dental care lags in Carthage
47.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 32.5% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
Carthage is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Carthage is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Carthage
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.4%), vs 13.7% across Missouri. No reliable transportation (13.5% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (19.2% vs 12.1%) are higher too. 21.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Carthage’s likely range.
What’s behind Carthage’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carthage is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #220 of 247 in Missouri. All seven of Carthage’s estimates fall in the lowest 15% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 39.5% of adults, against 28.8% across Missouri and 24.7% 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). Carthage’s median household income is $51,328; among the 6,250 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Carthage adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.1% of Carthage adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Out of every 100 Carthage adults…
Carthage runs above MO on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Carthage
1 community health center in Carthage, 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 Carthage; ≈ 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.
2.1 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Carthage adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Carthage runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Carthage 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.
Carthage and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage | D− | 42.5% | 15.1% | 20.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carthage adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carthage
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carthage is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Carthage’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carthage | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.9%26.4–33.4 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.1–20.3 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.7–22.3 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.5%34.5–50.4 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.2–17.1 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.9%34.8–43.1 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.4–42.1 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.9%26.7–33.1 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11%9.5–12.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32.5%27.9–37.1 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.9%18–24 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.5%34.3–44.8 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.8–17.6 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.7%35.3–48.5 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.5%15.8–21.3 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%72.4–79.9 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.6%43.9–51.2 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.5%77.2–81.9 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.6%72.8–78.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.7%51.2–62 | 64% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.5%59.7–76.4 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.8–29.2 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.9%28.8–39.2 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.5–25.5 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.4%21.2–28 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.2%16.7–22 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.9%12.1–15.7 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.5%11.9–15.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.1%18.3–24.2 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.5%39.7–49.2 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.9%18.4–23.4 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.8%20.3–25.4 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.1%11.5–14.6 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.3–6.7 | 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 Carthage
Is Carthage a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carthage is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #220 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carthage?
CDC estimates 42.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.5% and 50.4%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carthage?
Mercy Hospital Carthage in Carthage, 3.8 miles in a straight line from Carthage’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carthage have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.8–21.3%), 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 Carthage more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Carthage.
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.