Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, La Plata is healthier than 65%
La Plata differs from Missouri on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Plata. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Plata
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in La Plata
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.9%), vs 8.6% across Missouri. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 6.8% across Missouri. COPD is also above the state: 9.9%, vs 8% across Missouri. In all, La Plata runs above Missouri on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Missouri 18%), and cancer, heart disease and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
La Plata is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, La Plata is healthier than 30%. Against the 5,805 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 65%. 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 La Plata’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind La Plata’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Plata is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 64% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). La Plata’s median household income is $50,000; among the 5,805 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 65%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where La Plata compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 La Plata adults…
La Plata runs above MO on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
La Plata is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in La Plata as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near La Plata
No hospital or community health center in La Plata itself. These are the nearest.
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 La Plata; ≈ 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of La Plata adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How La Plata adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
3 in 10 La Plata 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.9% of La Plata adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
La Plata and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Plata | C | 34.2% | 13.2% | 17.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of La Plata adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Plata
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Plata is better than Missouri on 1 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside La Plata’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Plata | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.7%19.1–26.8 | 20.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%13.9–18.8 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15–19.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.2%27.1–41.6 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.2–15.5 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40%35.6–44.4 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%36–44.8 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.5%30.7–38.5 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.4–9.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.9%8.2–11.8 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.4%14–20.8 | 15.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%13.9–20.7 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 32.5%27–38.4 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.9–17.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.1%30.5–43.8 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.3–10.3 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%76.9–83.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.5%53.3–61 | 60.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%83.7–88 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81%78.2–83.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%57.6–68.1 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%68.9–83.3 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.6–28 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.3%25.5–35.7 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%16.2–23.1 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.4%9.7–15.6 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%8.3–12.5 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.6%6.3–9 | 9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.3–9 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.9%7.5–12.5 | 10.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.4%35–46 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.4%16.4–22.8 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.7%15.1–20.5 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.4–12.3 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%8.6–11.9 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 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 La Plata
Is La Plata a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Plata is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in La Plata?
CDC estimates 34.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.1% and 41.6%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Plata?
Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, 12.8 miles in a straight line from La Plata’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in La Plata have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–10.3%), 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 La Plata 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 La Plata.
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.