Photo: Stephen Edmonds · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Missouri, Kansas City is healthier than 56% of graded towns
Kansas City differs from Missouri on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kansas City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kansas City
Kansas City has seven hospitals within its borders
7 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Kansas City. St. Lukes Hospital of Kansas City is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room, one of two five-star hospitals in town. Getting care ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Kansas City
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.9%), vs 13.7% across Missouri. Utility shut-off threats (12.7% vs 9%) and housing insecurity (17% vs 12.1%) are higher too. 15.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Kansas City looks healthier next to Missouri than next to the country
It’s healthier than 57% of the 247 Missouri towns we grade, but 35% of towns nationwide. Much of Missouri scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Kansas City
Grades next door run from Lee's Summit (A−) to Sugar Creek (D). Kansas City is a C+. Around town ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Kansas City
Kansas City runs below Missouri on cancer (6.5% vs 8.6%) and heart disease (5.7% vs 6.8%). Conditions ↓
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 Kansas City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind Kansas City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kansas City is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns, #108 of 247 in Missouri. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 61% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Kansas City’s median household income is $69,166; among the 10,466 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Kansas City compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.5% (U.S. 7.9%); coronary heart disease, 5.7% (U.S. 6.4%).
At 521,220 residents, Kansas City is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Kansas City
7 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Kansas City, 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 Kansas City; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.5% of Kansas City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Kansas City and the towns around it
Kansas City’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | C+ | 38.5% | 12% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Independence | C− | 37.3% | 12.9% | 18.4% | CDC place |
| Liberty | A− | 35.8% | 9.9% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Claycomo | C− | 40.4% | 13.8% | 18.4% | CDC place |
| Raytown | C− | 38.4% | 13.2% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Unity Village | — | — | — | — | |
| Belton | C+ | 39.9% | 11.7% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Lee's Summit | A− | 32.6% | 9.5% | 11.9% | CDC place |
Unity Village: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Kansas City adults…
Kansas City runs below MO on 4 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.
198 miles of trails across 196 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kansas City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Kansas City adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Kansas City runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Kansas City 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kansas City adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kansas City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kansas City is better than Missouri on 4 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Kansas City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kansas City | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%20–23.1 | 20.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%12.5–14.6 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%17.4–20.3 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.5%35.4–41.7 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12%11–13.1 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%32.7–36.9 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%34–38.6 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.9%23.3–26.7 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.8–11.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%6.1–7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.3–6.1 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.9%6.4–7.4 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.3–3.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.5%13.6–17.5 | 15.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%14.3–17.1 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.7%27.4–32.2 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%15–18.6 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%33.6–39.5 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%9.6–11.7 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%74.6–79 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.3%57–61.6 | 60.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.4%81.9–84.7 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74%72.1–76 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%60.4–66.4 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%72.8–81 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%22.4–26.7 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%31–36.5 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%20.5–24.9 | 20.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%17.3–20.5 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%15.5–18.5 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.7%11.6–14 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%10.1–12 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.5%14.1–16.9 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.4%33.1–37.8 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%14.3–16.6 | 15.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%16.6–19.3 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%6.1–7.2 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.6–6.3 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%9–10.5 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4.1–4.7 | 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 Kansas City
Is Kansas City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kansas City is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #108 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kansas City?
CDC estimates 38.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.4% and 41.7%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kansas City?
NKC Health in North Kansas City, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Kansas City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kansas City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–11.7%), 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 Kansas City more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kansas City.
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.