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Gerald, Missouri - Old Mill & SchoolPhoto: TCP04 · CC BY 4.0
≈ C−Health Grade
Health in Gerald · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Gerald is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns

On every measure CDC estimates, Gerald looks like Missouri as a whole.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gerald. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Gerald

Health Grade

What’s behind Gerald’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gerald is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 51% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 18%).

CSelf-rated health21.9% · MO 20.5% · U.S. 19.4%
CPhysical distress15.5% · MO 14.2% · U.S. 13%
C−Mental distress18.8% · MO 17.5% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity40.1% · MO 36.6% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes12% · MO 12.1% · U.S. 12%
C−Smoking18.1% smoke · MO 16% · U.S. 11.8%
C−Exercise31.1% · MO 28.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 23%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $46K–$77K (9,290)Healthier than 32%

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). Gerald’s median household income is $61,458; among the 9,290 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 32%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Gerald could be anywhere from D to B. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Gerald

No hospital or community health center in Gerald itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERMissouri Baptist Sullivan HospitalSullivan · 16.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMissouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital★★★★★ · 16.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCompass HealthOwensville · 9.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
9.6 mi
Compass Health
6 sites · nearest in Owensville
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
16.6 mi
Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
Sullivan · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
17.6 mi
South Central Missouri Community Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Bourbon
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
20.7 mi
Mercy Hospital Washington
Washington · ★★★★★
ER
21.2 mi
Hermann Area District Hospital
Hermann · not rated
ERRural critical access
39.6 mi
Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Rolla · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Gerald itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Gerald itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Gerald itself

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 Gerald; ≈ 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).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Gerald adults…

On every condition, Gerald is about the same as Missouri. Tap one to see it as people.

36 of every 100 Gerald adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · about the same · likely 32.3–40.4%
Better than MOWorseAbout the sameMissouri
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri

Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.

Get no exercise 31.1%MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 35%MO 36.5%
Binge drink 18%MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 18.1%MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Gerald, betterGerald, worseAbout the sameMissouri
Where Gerald gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Gerald adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.

77%Yearly checkupMO 78%
59%Dentist visitMO 60%
83%Cholesterol checkMO 85%
65%Colon screeningMO 64%
69%MammogramMO 75%
77%Taking BP medsMO 77%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Gerald 9% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection

How Gerald adults are doing

About the same as Missouri on each measure.

3 in 10Gerald adults feel lonely
30.7% · MO 31.7% · About the same as MO
1 in 5Gerald adults lack social or emotional support
19.9% · MO 20.1% · About the same as MO
1 in 4Gerald adults have been diagnosed with depression
27% · MO 24.3% · About the same as MO
1 in 5Gerald adults are in frequent mental distress
18.8% · MO 17.5% · About the same as MO
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Gerald adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Gerald adults worry about having enough food
13.4% · MO 13.7%
About the same as MO
1 in 9
Gerald adults worry about keeping their housing
11.5% · MO 12.1%
About the same as MO
1 in 12
Gerald adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.3% · MO 9%
About the same as MO
1 in 12
Gerald adults lack reliable transportation
8.4% · MO 8.4%
About the same as MO

10.7% of Gerald adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.

Around town

Gerald and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
GeraldC−40.1%12%18.1%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

38.4%

of Gerald adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.4%
Thinking or memory19%
Hearing8.9%
Errands alone10%
Vision5.2%
Dressing or bathing4%
Missouri

Every CDC estimate for Gerald

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gerald is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Gerald’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…GeraldMOU.S.vs MO
Overall health
Fair or poor health21.9%18.8–25.220.5%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15.5%13.5–17.514.2%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.8%16.6–21.217.5%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity40.1%33.3–47.536.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12%10.3–13.812.1%12%About the same
High blood pressure36.2%32.3–40.436.5%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.1%34–42.437.5%37.1%About the same
Arthritis30.2%27–33.628.8%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.9%9.6–12.310.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.8%7.9–9.78.6%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease7.2%6.3–8.16.8%6.4%About the same
COPD9.1%7.7–10.48%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.7%3.3–4.23.6%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)15.4%12.6–18.515.8%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes18.1%15.3–21.316%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work31.1%26.4–36.328.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18%14.9–21.316.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours35%29–41.536.5%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)9%7.2–11.18.7%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year77.4%73.8–80.878.4%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year58.6%54.8–62.260.4%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years82.7%80.5–84.984.5%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)77%74.2–79.777.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)64.9%59.8–69.664%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)68.7%59.9–76.374.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression27%23.3–30.924.3%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely30.7%26.2–35.531.7%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support19.9%16.9–23.320.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food13.4%11–16.113.7%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing11.5%9.7–13.612.1%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off8.3%7.1–9.69%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8.4%7.2–9.78.4%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)10.7%8.7–12.910.8%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability38.4%33.9–43.336.2%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs16.4%14.1–18.915.8%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering19%16.7–21.617.2%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.9%7.9–10.18.3%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty5.2%4.6–5.95.1%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone10%8.7–11.49.2%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4%3.5–4.63.9%3.8%About the same

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 Gerald

Is Gerald a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gerald is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 32%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Gerald?

CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.3% and 47.5%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Gerald?

Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital in Sullivan, 16.6 miles in a straight line from Gerald’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.

How many people in Gerald have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–11.1%), 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 Gerald more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gerald.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.