Photo: AbeEzekowitz · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Joplin is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Joplin trails Missouri on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Joplin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Joplin
Making ends meet is harder in Joplin
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17.5%), vs 13.7% across Missouri. No reliable transportation (10.8% vs 8.4%) and utility shut-off threats (11% vs 9%) are higher too. 15.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD runs high in Joplin
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 8% across Missouri. Conditions ↓
Joplin is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Joplin is healthier than 16%. Against the 6,493 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 35%. 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 Joplin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Joplin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Joplin is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #167 of 247 in Missouri. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 40% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Joplin’s median household income is $52,097; among the 6,493 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 35%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Missouri towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Joplin is healthier than 33% of graded towns, against 16% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.3% of Joplin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Out of every 100 Joplin adults…
Joplin runs above MO on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Joplin
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Joplin, 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 Joplin; ≈ 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.
14 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Joplin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Joplin adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Joplin runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Joplin 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.
Joplin and the towns around it
Joplin’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | C− | 39.6% | 12.7% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Leawood | — | — | — | — | |
| Duquesne | C | 38.4% | 12.1% | 16.6% | CDC place |
| Webb City | C | 38.4% | 11.1% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Duenweg | C− | 40.4% | 11.8% | 19.3% | CDC place |
| Grand Falls Plaza | — | — | — | — | |
| Redings Mill | — | — | — | — | |
| Loma Linda | B− | 36.1% | 12.7% | 14.3% | CDC place |
Leawood, Grand Falls Plaza and Redings Mill: 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 Joplin adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Joplin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Joplin is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Joplin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Joplin | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%21.3–26.3 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.3–17.6 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%18.2–22.3 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.6%33.2–46.4 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.7%11.3–14.2 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.7%33.3–40.3 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%32.9–40.3 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%26.2–31.8 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.6–9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.6–7.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.7%15.1–20.6 | 15.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%16.7–21 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.5%28.5–36.9 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%13.3–18.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.4%34.9–46 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.8%73.5–80 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.5%51.1–57.8 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.6%78.7–82.5 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.2%72.9–77.5 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.8%57.3–66.2 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.2%64–77.7 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.6%23.3–30.1 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.2%28.9–37.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.6%17.8–23.6 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.5%15.5–19.8 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.3%12.7–16.2 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11%9.7–12.3 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.7–12 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.3%13.5–17.1 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40%36.1–44.1 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.2%15.5–19 | 15.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.7%18.8–22.8 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8.2–10 | 8.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.8–6.9 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%10.2–12.4 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.3–5 | 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 Joplin
Is Joplin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Joplin is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #167 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 35%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Joplin?
CDC estimates 39.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.2% and 46.4%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Joplin?
Freeman Health System - Freeman West in Joplin, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Joplin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Joplin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.5–12.3%), 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 Joplin 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 Joplin.
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.