Wilson Larimore House · Photo: National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Spanish Lake is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Spanish Lake differs from Missouri on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Spanish Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Spanish Lake
Making ends meet is harder in Spanish Lake
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (31.9%), more than twice the Missouri rate. Utility shut-off threats (22.7% vs 9%) and housing insecurity (28.3% vs 12.1%) are higher too. 30.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Spanish Lake adults lack emotional support
3 in 10 adults lack social or emotional support (29.5%), vs 20.1% across Missouri. Loneliness is above the state too: 40.1%, vs 31.7% across Missouri. Mind & connection ↓
Spanish Lake is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Spanish Lake is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six 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 Spanish Lake’s likely range.
What’s behind Spanish Lake’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spanish Lake is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #223 of 247 in Missouri. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 18% 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). Spanish Lake’s median household income is $55,920; among the 7,708 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 5%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Spanish Lake compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.3% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.6% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 81.1% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
30.4% of Spanish Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
How Spanish Lake adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Spanish Lake runs above Missouri.
2 in 5 Spanish Lake 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.
Out of every 100 Spanish Lake adults…
Spanish Lake runs below MO on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Spanish Lake residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Spanish Lake
No hospital or community health center in Spanish Lake 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 Spanish Lake; ≈ 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.
5.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Spanish Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Spanish Lake and the towns around it
Spanish Lake’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Lake | D− | 43.5% | 17.2% | 21.2% | CDC place |
| Bellefontaine Neighbors | D− | 45.9% | 21.1% | 23.7% | CDC place |
| Glasgow Village | D− | 48.4% | 17.6% | 28.8% | CDC place |
| St. Louis | C | 36.8% | 13.2% | 16.8% | CDC place |
| Old Jamestown | B− | 36.3% | 15.1% | 13.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Spanish Lake adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Spanish Lake
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Spanish Lake is better than Missouri on 4 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Spanish Lake’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Spanish Lake | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.2%26.3–32.3 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.6–18.3 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.3%19.1–23.4 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.5%39.3–47.8 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.2%15.4–19.2 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.6%42.6–48.6 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.2%31.4–37.1 | 37.5% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 29.1%26.7–31.7 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.5%12.1–15.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6.1–7.5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.9%8–10.1 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 5%4.6–5.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.8%20.5–29.6 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.2%18.6–23.9 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.1%34.3–42 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.6%10.8–14.5 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.1%40.6–49.6 | 36.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.1%9.4–13 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%78.7–83.6 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.8%45.1–52.4 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.4%81.5–85.4 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%76.4–80.9 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%59.8–68.7 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%71.5–83.6 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.4%19.8–25 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.1%36.5–43.9 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.5%26.3–32.9 | 20.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.9%28.5–35.7 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.3%25.4–31.6 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 22.7%20.3–25.3 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.8%15.9–19.9 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.4%27–34 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.3%39.7–46.9 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.2%19–23.5 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.7%19.5–24 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.6–7 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8.7%7.9–9.6 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.8%12.4–15.3 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%6–7.4 | 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 Spanish Lake
Is Spanish Lake a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spanish Lake is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #223 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 5%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Spanish Lake?
CDC estimates 43.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.3% and 47.8%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Spanish Lake?
Christian Hospital Northeast in Saint Louis, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Spanish Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Spanish Lake have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–13%), 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 Spanish Lake 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 Spanish Lake.
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.