On CDC estimates, Gower is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns
Gower differs from Missouri on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gower. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gower
Cancer runs high in Gower
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.1%), vs 8.6% across Missouri. Conditions ↓
Fewer Gower adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Missouri. 1 in 10 adults worry about keeping their housing, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Gower has a community health center but no hospital
Northwest Health Services is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph in Saint Joseph, 14.3 miles away. 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 Gower’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Gower’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gower is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 61% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Gower’s median household income is $83,750; among the 10,489 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$105K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Gower compares well: worried about keeping housing, 9.7% (U.S. 12%).
Out of every 100 Gower adults…
Gower runs above MO on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.6% of Gower adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Care in and near Gower
1 community health center in Gower, 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 Gower; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Gower adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Gower adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
3 in 10 Gower 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.
Gower and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gower | C+ | 38.3% | 11.4% | 15.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gower adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gower
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gower is better than Missouri on 3 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Gower’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gower | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%16.5–23.4 | 20.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.5–16.8 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%14.8–19.5 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.3%31.1–45.4 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%9.6–13.1 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.7%33.5–41.6 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.4%34.2–42.5 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31%27.5–34.5 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%6.9–9.9 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.2–4.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.5–21.4 | 15.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.7%12.4–18.9 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.8%24.4–35.2 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13.1–19 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%28.4–41.5 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%5.9–10.1 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.2–82.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.2%58.4–65.8 | 60.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.2–87.7 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%75.9–81.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.5%59.9–68.8 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%65.5–80.9 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%21.5–29.1 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.9%24.3–34 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.4%15.2–21.9 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.1%8.5–13.8 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%7.7–11.9 | 12.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%5.8–8.5 | 9% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%5.7–8.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%6.3–11 | 10.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.6%32.4–42.6 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.4%13.7–19.2 | 15.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%14.1–19.4 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.2–10.7 | 8.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4–5.6 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.6–10.8 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3–4.3 | 3.9% | 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 Gower
Is Gower a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gower is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gower?
CDC estimates 38.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 45.4%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gower?
Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph in Saint Joseph, 14.3 miles in a straight line from Gower’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gower have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–10.1%), 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 Gower more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gower.
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.