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Sikeston-downtown-area-moPhoto: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
DHealth Grade
Health in Sikeston · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Sikeston is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns

Sikeston differs from Missouri on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 17 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sikeston. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Sikeston

Making ends meet is harder in Sikeston

1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.8%), vs 13.7% across Missouri. Utility shut-off threats (13.3% vs 9%) and housing insecurity (17.8% vs 12.1%) are higher too. 19.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓

More Sikeston adults get no exercise

2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.5%), vs 28.8% across Missouri. There are 13 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓

Sikeston is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health

On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Sikeston is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, smoking and exercise. 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 Sikeston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.

Health Grade

What’s behind Sikeston’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sikeston is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #197 of 247 in Missouri. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 22% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 4%).

DSelf-rated health26% · MO 20.5% · U.S. 19.4%
C−Physical distress16.5% · MO 14.2% · U.S. 13%
C−Mental distress18.7% · MO 17.5% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity40.4% · MO 36.6% · U.S. 32.9%
C−Diabetes14.9% · MO 12.1% · U.S. 12%
DSmoking19.9% smoke · MO 16% · U.S. 11.8%
D−Exercise38.5% · MO 28.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 10%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (247)Healthier than 20%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $44K–$74K (8,630)Healthier than 12%

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). Sikeston’s median household income is $58,915; among the 8,630 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 12%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Sikeston could be anywhere from D− to C.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 5
Sikeston adults worry about having enough food
21.8% · MO 13.7%
Worse than MO
1 in 6
Sikeston adults worry about keeping their housing
17.8% · MO 12.1%
Worse than MO
1 in 8
Sikeston adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
13.3% · MO 9%
Worse than MO
1 in 8
Sikeston adults lack reliable transportation
11.9% · MO 8.4%
Worse than MO

19.7% of Sikeston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri

Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.

Get no exercise 38.5%MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 42.4%MO 36.5%
Binge drink 13.4%MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 19.9%MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Sikeston, betterSikeston, worseAbout the sameMissouri
Where Sikeston gets moving

13 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Sikeston adults…

Sikeston runs above MO on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Sikeston adults have COPD
Missouri: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 9.3–11.3%
Better than MOWorseAbout the sameMissouri
Getting care

Care in and near Sikeston

1 hospital and 1 community health center in Sikeston, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMissouri Delta Medical CenterSikeston · 0.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMissouri Delta Medical Center★★★★★ · 0.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSoutheast Missouri Health NetworkSikeston · 1.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Missouri Delta Medical Center
Sikeston · ★★★★★
ERIn Sikeston
1.2 mi
Southeast Missouri Health Network
5 sites · nearest in Sikeston
Sliding-scale feesIn Sikeston
Directions to nearest
21.8 mi
Mercy Hospital Stoddard
Dexter · ★★★★★
ER
23.5 mi
Cross Trails Medical Center
Advance · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
28.9 mi
Saint Francis Medical Center
Cape Girardeau · ★★★★★
ER
29.7 mi
Mercy Hospital Southeast
Cape Girardeau · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Sikeston itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Sikeston itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Sikeston itself

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 Sikeston; ≈ 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).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Sikeston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.

80%Yearly checkupMO 78%
51%Dentist visitMO 60%
84%Cholesterol checkMO 85%
61%Colon screeningMO 64%
71%MammogramMO 75%
79%Taking BP medsMO 77%
1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Sikeston 10.9% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection

How Sikeston adults are doing

About the same as Missouri on each measure.

1 in 3Sikeston adults feel lonely
33.1% · MO 31.7% · About the same as MO
1 in 5Sikeston adults lack social or emotional support
21.4% · MO 20.1% · About the same as MO
1 in 4Sikeston adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.9% · MO 24.3% · About the same as MO
1 in 5Sikeston adults are in frequent mental distress
18.7% · MO 17.5% · About the same as MO
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Sikeston adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Sikeston and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
SikestonD40.4%14.9%19.9%CDC place
Miner————

Miner: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

41.5%

of Sikeston adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20.1%
Thinking or memory20%
Hearing9.1%
Errands alone12.1%
Vision7.2%
Dressing or bathing5.5%
Missouri

Every CDC estimate for Sikeston

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sikeston is better than Missouri on 1 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Sikeston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…SikestonMOU.S.vs MO
Overall health
Fair or poor health26%23.4–28.620.5%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)16.5%14.8–18.214.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.7%16.8–20.617.5%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity40.4%35–4636.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes14.9%13.2–16.612.1%12%Worse
High blood pressure42%38.5–45.436.5%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.9%35.3–42.537.5%37.1%About the same
Arthritis31.6%28.7–34.628.8%25.3%About the same
Asthma11.6%10.3–12.810.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.6%7.8–9.38.6%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease7.9%7.2–8.76.8%6.4%Worse
COPD10.3%9.3–11.38%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.6%4.3–53.6%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)21.1%18.1–24.315.8%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes19.9%17.7–22.116%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work38.5%34.4–42.628.8%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking13.4%11.2–15.716.3%15.4%Better
Sleep under 7 hours42.4%37.6–47.536.5%36%Worse
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)10.9%9.5–12.58.7%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year80.1%77.1–82.978.4%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year51.3%48.1–54.460.4%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years83.5%81.7–85.284.5%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.9%76.4–81.277.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)61%56.7–65.164%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)71.2%64.5–77.374.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression23.9%20.9–2724.3%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely33.1%28.9–37.331.7%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.4%18.6–24.420.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food21.8%19.3–24.213.7%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing17.8%15.8–19.812.1%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off13.3%11.9–14.89%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation11.9%10.7–13.28.4%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)19.7%17.6–21.810.8%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability41.5%37.8–45.336.2%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs20.1%18.1–22.215.8%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering20%18.1–21.917.2%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty9.1%8.2–108.3%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty7.2%6.6–7.85.1%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone12.1%11–13.39.2%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing5.5%5–63.9%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 Sikeston

Is Sikeston a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sikeston is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #197 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 12%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Sikeston?

CDC estimates 40.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 35% and 46%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Sikeston?

Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Sikeston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.

How many people in Sikeston have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.5–12.5%), 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 Sikeston 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 Sikeston.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.