On CDC estimates, Merriam Woods is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Merriam Woods trails Missouri on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Merriam Woods. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merriam Woods
Dental care lags in Merriam Woods
50.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 24.9% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Merriam Woods
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.3%), vs 13.7% across Missouri. No reliable transportation (11.1% vs 8.4%) and utility shut-off threats (11.7% vs 9%) are higher too. 16.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Merriam Woods is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Merriam Woods is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. 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 Merriam Woods’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Merriam Woods’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merriam Woods is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 34% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Merriam Woods’ median household income is $52,250; among the 6,542 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Merriam Woods adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.5% of Merriam Woods adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Out of every 100 Merriam Woods adults…
Merriam Woods runs above MO on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Merriam Woods
No hospital or community health center in Merriam Woods 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 Merriam Woods; ≈ 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.
How Merriam Woods adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Merriam Woods runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Merriam Woods 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.
Merriam Woods and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merriam Woods | D | 39% | 13.1% | 22% | CDC place |
| Rockaway Beach | — | — | — | — |
Rockaway Beach: 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 Merriam Woods adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Merriam Woods
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Merriam Woods is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Merriam Woods’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Merriam Woods | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%21.7–29.7 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15–19.8 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%18–23.2 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39%31.1–47.3 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.1%11.2–15.1 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.6%33.2–41.8 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.6–41.5 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.9%26.4–33.4 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.9 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.6–8.5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.3%8.7–12 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.5–4.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.9%20.9–29 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22%18.2–25.9 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.4%28.7–40.3 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.1–19.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1%33.1–47.5 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.1%9.6–14.9 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.7%71.6–79.6 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.4%46.3–54.4 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.5%78–83.1 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.9%71.6–77.8 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.3%52.6–63.7 | 64% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.2%59.1–76.4 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%22.9–30.8 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.5%27–37.9 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%17.6–25 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.3%15.8–23.4 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.5%13–18.4 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.7%10–13.5 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%9.5–12.8 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.5%13.4–19.9 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.3%36.8–48 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.9%16.1–21.9 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.7%18.7–24.8 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.2%8–10.3 | 8.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%5.7–7.5 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.1–13.6 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.3–5.8 | 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 Merriam Woods
Is Merriam Woods a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merriam Woods is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Merriam Woods?
CDC estimates 39% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 47.3%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Merriam Woods?
Cox Medical Center Branson in Branson, 9.5 miles in a straight line from Merriam Woods’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Merriam Woods have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–14.9%), 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 Merriam Woods 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 Merriam Woods.
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.