Rodgers Theatre Building · Photo: Michael Gäbler · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Poplar Bluff is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Poplar Bluff trails Missouri on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Poplar Bluff. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Poplar Bluff
Dental care lags in Poplar Bluff
44.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 29.3% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
Poplar Bluff is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Poplar Bluff is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Poplar Bluff
1 in 8 adults have COPD (13.1%), vs 8% across Missouri. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.2%), vs 3.6% across Missouri. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.3%, vs 6.8% across Missouri. In all, Poplar Bluff runs above Missouri on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Poplar Bluff adults live with a disability
1 in 2 adults live with a disability (47.8%, vs 36.2% across Missouri). The biggest difference is vision loss: 8.8% vs 5.1%. Disability ↓
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 Poplar Bluff’s likely range.
What’s behind Poplar Bluff’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Poplar Bluff is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #236 of 247 in Missouri. All seven of Poplar Bluff’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 24.3% of adults, against 16% across Missouri and 11.8% nationally.
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). Poplar Bluff’s median household income is $41,941; among the 3,000 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Poplar Bluff adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Out of every 100 Poplar Bluff adults…
Poplar Bluff runs above MO on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Poplar Bluff adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Care in and near Poplar Bluff
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Poplar Bluff, 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 Poplar Bluff; ≈ 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.
22 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Poplar Bluff adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Poplar Bluff runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Poplar Bluff 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.
23.9% of Poplar Bluff adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Poplar Bluff and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poplar Bluff | D− | 42.9% | 16.3% | 24.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Poplar Bluff
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Poplar Bluff is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Poplar Bluff’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Poplar Bluff | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.6%28.2–35 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.6–22.2 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.7%19.3–24.3 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.9%35.5–50.6 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.3%14.3–18.5 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.4%39.3–47.6 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%36.2–44.8 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.4%31–37.9 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.7–13.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.8–9.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.1%11.7–14.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.8–5.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 29.3%24.8–34.1 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.3%21.4–27.4 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.9%35.8–46.4 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.4–16.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.1%35.5–48.9 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13%11.1–15.1 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.4–81.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 44.9%41.1–48.5 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.6%77.4–81.8 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.9–80 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.2%53.9–64.2 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.4%58.7–75.4 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.1%24.2–32.3 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.3%29.2–39.5 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.6%19.1–26 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.3%22.2–28.5 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.5%16.2–20.9 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.1%13.3–17 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14%12.4–15.6 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.9%21.1–26.7 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.8%43–52.7 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.5%20.9–26 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.2%21.7–26.7 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.9%9.7–12.1 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.8%8–9.6 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.8%13.3–16.4 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 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 Poplar Bluff
Is Poplar Bluff a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Poplar Bluff is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #236 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Poplar Bluff?
CDC estimates 42.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 50.6%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Poplar Bluff?
Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Poplar Bluff’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Poplar Bluff have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.1–15.1%), 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 Poplar Bluff more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Poplar Bluff.
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.