Photo: TCP04 · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Mexico is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Mexico trails Missouri on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mexico. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mexico
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Mexico
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), vs 8% across Missouri. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.7%), vs 3.6% across Missouri. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.7%, vs 6.8% across Missouri. In all, Mexico runs above Missouri on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 28 miles from Mexico
The closest emergency room is Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, 28 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, East Central Missouri Behavioral Health Services is closer (1.4 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Dental care lags in Mexico
54.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 19.9% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
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 Mexico’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Mexico’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mexico is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #185 of 247 in Missouri. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 25% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Mexico’s median household income is $50,873; among the 6,094 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 25%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Mexico adults…
Mexico runs above MO on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Mexico
1 community health center in Mexico, 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 Mexico; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Mexico adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
4.2 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
How Mexico adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
1 in 3 Mexico 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.
14.7% of Mexico adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Mexico and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | D | 39.5% | 14.4% | 19.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mexico adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mexico
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mexico is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Mexico’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mexico | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.3%22.3–28.5 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.2–19.2 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.1–21.3 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%31.5–47.6 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.6–16.3 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.4%36.3–44.6 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.1–41.7 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33%29.7–36.5 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.6–12 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.9%16.4–23.9 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.2%16.6–21.8 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35.1%30.2–40.2 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.4–18.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1%33.2–47.4 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%8.6–11.7 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%75.8–82.6 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.2%50.2–58.2 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.1%80.9–85 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.3%76.7–81.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.8%55.2–66.1 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.6%64.3–80.1 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.9–29.3 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.1%27.3–37.4 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.7%17.5–24.1 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.1%14.6–19.8 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%11.9–15.9 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.3–12.1 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.2%9–11.5 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.7%12.6–16.9 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.4%37.8–47.1 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.8–22.5 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%18–22.3 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 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 Mexico
Is Mexico a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mexico is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #185 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 25%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mexico?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 47.6%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mexico?
Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, 28.0 miles in a straight line from Mexico’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mexico have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.6–11.7%), 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 Mexico 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 Mexico.
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.