Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0East Prairie’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
East Prairie trails Missouri on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for East Prairie. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Prairie
Dental care lags in East Prairie
40.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 37.5% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in East Prairie
1 in 7 adults have COPD (15.3%), about twice the Missouri rate. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.6%), vs 3.6% across Missouri. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.3%, vs 6.8% across Missouri. In all, East Prairie runs above Missouri on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More East Prairie adults get no exercise
44.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.8% across Missouri. Habits ↓
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 East Prairie’s likely range.
What’s behind East Prairie’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Prairie is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #243 of 247 in Missouri. All seven of East Prairie’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 27.4% 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). East Prairie’s median household income is $34,637; among the 1,196 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of East Prairie adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Out of every 100 East Prairie adults…
East Prairie runs above MO on 10 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.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near East Prairie
1 community health center in East Prairie, 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 East Prairie; ≈ 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 East Prairie adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, East Prairie runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 East Prairie 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.
26.3% of East Prairie adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
East Prairie and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Prairie | D− | 47.7% | 17% | 27.4% | CDC place |
| Whiting | — | — | — | — |
Whiting: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Prairie adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Prairie
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Prairie is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside East Prairie’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Prairie | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.4%29.4–39.3 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.3%18.4–24.2 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.2%19.6–25.2 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 47.7%39.9–55.6 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17%14.6–19.4 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.6%39.2–47.8 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%36.1–44.7 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.6%32.8–40.2 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.8–14 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%7.9–9.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.3%9–11.7 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 15.3%12.9–17.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.6%4.8–6.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 37.5%32.2–43.2 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.4%23–31.9 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 44.4%38–50.7 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.3–16.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.2%35–48.9 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14%11–17.6 | 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 | 40.4%36.4–43.9 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.5%75.4–81.4 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.8–81.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.9%47.9–59.4 | 64% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 62.3%52.6–70.9 | 74.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.2%25–33.5 | 24.3% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.3%29.8–41 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.1%18.4–26 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.4%21.5–31.2 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.5%15.3–21.6 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.9%12.7–17.2 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.4%12.2–16.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.3%21.4–31 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50.2%44.3–55.9 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.9%22.1–29.6 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 25.7%22.3–29.4 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12%10.5–13.5 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.5%8.1–11 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.2%13.7–18.7 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.2–8.7 | 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 East Prairie
Is East Prairie a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Prairie is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #243 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 East Prairie?
CDC estimates 47.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.9% and 55.6%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Prairie?
Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, 13.5 miles in a straight line from East Prairie’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Prairie have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–17.6%), 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 East Prairie 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 East Prairie.
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.