Sanborn Field and Soil Erosion Plots · Photo: Iwtwb8 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Columbia as a whole is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns
Columbia differs from Missouri on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbia
Columbia is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Columbia is healthier than 70%. Against the 10,144 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 90%. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Columbia
Columbia runs below Missouri on nine chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.5% vs 6.8%), stroke (2.5% vs 3.6%) and diabetes (8.5% vs 12.1%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Missouri 18%). Conditions ↓
Columbia has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Columbia. Boone Hospital Center 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 Columbia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Columbia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #53 of 247 in Missouri. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 94% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Columbia’s median household income is $66,498; among the 10,144 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 90%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 130,851 residents, Columbia is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Columbia adults…
Columbia runs below MO on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Columbia residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Columbia
3 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Columbia, 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 Columbia; ≈ 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.
92 miles of trails across 75 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Columbia adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
1 in 3 Columbia 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.
13.1% of Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Columbia and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | B+ | 30.1% | 8.5% | 12.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbia adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbia is better than Missouri on 14 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Columbia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbia | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.1%15.9–20.2 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.9%10.5–13.3 | 14.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17–21.3 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.1%24.6–35.7 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.5%7.4–9.7 | 12.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.1%24.9–31.3 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.1%27.6–34.7 | 37.5% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.6%18.2–23 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.6–12.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.1%5.5–6.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%4.1–5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.5%10.4–15.1 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.7–14.1 | 16% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%21–28.3 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.5%15.5–21.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.2%30.3–40.4 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%7.3–9.7 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.5%71.9–78.9 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.9%56.6–63.3 | 60.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.6%75.4–79.9 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.8%66–71.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.8%59.3–68.4 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%71.2–83.7 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%22–28.8 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%27.3–36.3 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.9%16.2–21.9 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.7%13.7–17.9 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%11–14.5 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10%8.7–11.3 | 9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.1%11.4–14.9 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.1%30.2–38 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.6%10.2–13 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.2%17.3–21.1 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.5–5.4 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.8–10.8 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.9–3.4 | 3.9% | 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 Columbia
Is Columbia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #53 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbia?
CDC estimates 30.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.6% and 35.7%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbia?
University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–9.7%), 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 Columbia more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbia.
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.