Photo: Dean Sebourn · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Doniphan is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Doniphan differs from Missouri on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Doniphan. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Doniphan
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Doniphan
1 in 6 adults have COPD (15.7%), about twice the Missouri rate. 1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.2%), vs 3.6% across Missouri. Heart disease is also above the state: 11.6%, vs 6.8% across Missouri. In all, Doniphan runs above Missouri on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Doniphan is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Doniphan is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Doniphan adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (41.8%), vs 28.8% across Missouri. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Doniphan, and more people treating it
45.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Missouri 36.5%), but 81.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
Doniphan is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Doniphan is healthier than 2%. Against the 1,774 towns with similar household incomes ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 17%. 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 Doniphan’s likely range.
What’s behind Doniphan’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Doniphan is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of Doniphan’s estimates fall in the lowest 13% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 20.7% of adults, against 14.2% across Missouri and 13% 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). Doniphan’s median household income is $37,650; among the 1,774 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Doniphan compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Doniphan adults…
Doniphan runs above MO on 9 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Doniphan adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Care in and near Doniphan
1 community health center in Doniphan, 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 Doniphan; ≈ 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 Doniphan adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
1 in 3 Doniphan 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.
20.9% of Doniphan adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Doniphan and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doniphan | D− | 41.5% | 17.8% | 23.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Doniphan adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Doniphan
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Doniphan is better than Missouri on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Doniphan’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Doniphan | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.5%27.4–37.8 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%17.7–23.9 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.5–22.6 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.5%33.3–49.9 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.8%15.2–20.5 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.6%41.1–50.1 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.3%38.6–48 | 37.5% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 39.4%35.5–43.2 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.5–13.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10–12.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 11.6%10–13.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 15.7%13–18.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.3–7.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32.1%26.7–37.4 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.8%19.7–28.2 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 41.8%35.2–48.7 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.5–15.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%29.1–44.4 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.2%9.3–15.7 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77–83.5 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53%48.6–57 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%80.2–85.3 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%79.2–84 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.1%51.4–64.3 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.5%58.9–78.4 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.5%23.6–31.5 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%27.3–38 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.4%17.1–24.2 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.3%17.2–25.6 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%12.4–17.6 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12%10.3–14 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.8%9.9–13.8 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.9%16.9–25.2 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50.3%44.5–56.3 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 27.5%23.3–31.7 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.1%19.7–26.5 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 13.8%12–15.6 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.2%7.7–10.8 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.4%12.8–18 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.2%6–8.6 | 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 Doniphan
Is Doniphan a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Doniphan is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Doniphan?
CDC estimates 41.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.3% and 49.9%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Doniphan?
Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, 23.9 miles in a straight line from Doniphan’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Doniphan have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–15.7%), 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 Doniphan 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 Doniphan.
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.