Where Mercer residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Mercer, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mercer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mercer
Mercer is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Mercer’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Mercer
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.1%), vs 8% across Missouri. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.4%), vs 6.8% across Missouri. Cancer is also above the state: 10.1%, vs 8.6% across Missouri. In all, Mercer runs above Missouri on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Missouri 18%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 20 miles from Mercer
The closest emergency room is Decatur County Hospital in Leon, 20.1 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Infinity Health is closer (8.4 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. 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 Mercer’s likely range.
Care in and near Mercer
No hospital or community health center in Mercer 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 Mercer; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Mercer adults…
Mercer runs above MO on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Mercer is an older town: 29% 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 Mercer as about how healthy they are.
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 Mercer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Mercer adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
1 in 3 Mercer 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.
10.4% of Mercer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Mercer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mercer adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Mercer
Why doesn’t Mercer have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Mercer.
What hospital is closest to Mercer?
Decatur County Hospital in Leon, 20.1 miles in a straight line from Mercer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Mercer?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Princeton Office in Princeton, 8.4 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mercer.
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. 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.