Wildwood House · Photo: Chuck Morris · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Ferguson is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Ferguson differs from Missouri on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ferguson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ferguson
Making ends meet is harder in Ferguson
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (30.4%), more than twice the Missouri rate. Utility shut-off threats (21.7% vs 9%) and housing insecurity (26.4% vs 12.1%) are higher too. 29.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Ferguson is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Ferguson is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Ferguson adults lack emotional support
1 in 4 adults lack social or emotional support (27.5%), vs 20.1% across Missouri. Loneliness is above the state too: 38.5%, vs 31.7% across Missouri. Mind & connection ↓
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 Ferguson’s likely range.
What’s behind Ferguson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ferguson is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #221 of 247 in Missouri. All seven of Ferguson’s estimates fall in the lowest 15% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 37.8% 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). Ferguson’s median household income is $47,524; among the 4,846 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 11%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Ferguson compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.7% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 81.1% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
29.7% of Ferguson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
How Ferguson adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Ferguson runs above Missouri.
2 in 5 Ferguson 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.
Out of every 100 Ferguson adults…
Ferguson runs below MO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ferguson
2 community health centers in Ferguson, 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 Ferguson; ≈ 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.
1.6 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Ferguson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Ferguson and the towns around it
Ferguson’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 8 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferguson | D− | 42.6% | 17.3% | 21.5% | CDC place |
| Dellwood | D | 42.7% | 17% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Cool Valley | D− | 45.4% | 21.7% | 22.9% | CDC place |
| Jennings | D− | 48.5% | 24.1% | 26.8% | CDC place |
| Calverton Park | C− | 37.7% | 13.9% | 17.7% | CDC place |
| Normandy | C+ | 36% | 12.6% | 14.7% | CDC place |
| Kinloch | — | — | — | — | |
| Berkeley | D− | 44.9% | 19% | 23.4% | CDC place |
Kinloch: 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 Ferguson adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ferguson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ferguson is better than Missouri on 3 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Ferguson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ferguson | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.3%26.6–32.1 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15.1–18.6 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.7–22.8 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.6%38.5–46.9 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.3%15.5–19.3 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.8%42.8–48.9 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.6%32.7–38.5 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%28.1–33.1 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.2%11.8–14.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.5–6.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.5–8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.8–5.6 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.8%20.7–29.1 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.5%19.1–24.1 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.8%34.2–41.6 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.7%10.9–14.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.1%38.7–47.5 | 36.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11%9.5–12.7 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%78.6–83.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.4%45.8–52.9 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.9–85.5 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%77–81.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.6%60–68.9 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.9%70.2–82.7 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%20.4–25.6 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.5%35–42.2 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.5%24.6–30.7 | 20.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.4%27.4–33.7 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.4%23.7–29.2 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 21.7%19.5–24 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.1%15.3–18.9 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 29.7%26.8–32.9 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.3%39.9–46.9 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.8%19.6–24 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.3%19.2–23.5 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%8.1–9.7 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.9%12.5–15.3 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.9%6.3–7.5 | 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 Ferguson
Is Ferguson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ferguson is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #221 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 11%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ferguson?
CDC estimates 42.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.5% and 46.9%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ferguson?
Christian Hospital Northeast in Saint Louis, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Ferguson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ferguson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.5–12.7%), 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 Ferguson 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 Ferguson.
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.