Photo: Stephenjayson · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Rolla is healthier than 79%
Rolla differs from Missouri on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rolla. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rolla
Rolla is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Rolla is healthier than 35%. Against the 4,413 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 79%. Health Grade ↓
Rolla looks healthier next to Missouri than next to the country
It’s healthier than 56% of the 247 Missouri towns we grade, but 35% of towns nationwide. Much of Missouri scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Rolla
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.8%), vs 13.7% across Missouri. No reliable transportation (13.1% vs 8.4%) and utility shut-off threats (11.9% vs 9%) are higher too. 17.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Rolla
53.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 20.5% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Rolla
Rolla runs below Missouri on four chronic conditions, most of all cancer (6.3% vs 8.6%), arthritis (23.3% vs 28.8%) and diabetes (10% vs 12.1%). Conditions ↓
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 Rolla’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Rolla’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rolla is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns, #109 of 247 in Missouri. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 81% of U.S. towns); mental distress 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). Rolla’s median household income is $46,204; among the 4,413 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Missouri towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Rolla is healthier than 56% of graded towns, against 35% nationally.
Where Rolla compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.6% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.3% of Rolla adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rolla adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Out of every 100 Rolla adults…
Rolla runs below MO on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Rolla
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Rolla, 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 Rolla; ≈ 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.
5.1 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
How Rolla adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Rolla runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Rolla 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.
Rolla and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolla | C+ | 34.6% | 10% | 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 Rolla adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rolla
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rolla is better than Missouri on 7 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Rolla’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rolla | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.3%20.5–26.4 | 20.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.7–16.2 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.3%18.8–23.8 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.6%27.7–42.1 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.8–11.4 | 12.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.1%27.5–34.9 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%28.1–35.4 | 37.5% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.3%20.7–25.9 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.4–6.6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 8.1%7.2–9 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.5%17.2–24.1 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%14.7–19.6 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.5%26–35.3 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.8–21.4 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.6%34.1–47.6 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%8.8–12.6 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.6%69.6–77.5 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.4%49.5–57.2 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 73.4%70.5–76.1 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.2%65.8–70.5 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%56.9–67.2 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%66.8–81.4 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%23.8–31.8 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.2%29.9–40.5 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%17.6–24.3 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.8%16.9–23 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.5%12.5–16.7 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.9%10.4–13.5 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.1%11.5–14.9 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.3%14.9–20.2 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41%36.3–45.8 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%12.7–16.1 | 15.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23%20.4–25.8 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9 | 8.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12%10.6–13.5 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.7 | 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 Rolla
Is Rolla a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rolla is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #109 of 247 in Missouri. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rolla?
CDC estimates 34.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.7% and 42.1%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rolla?
Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Rolla’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rolla have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–12.6%), 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 Rolla 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 Rolla.
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.