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–Not graded
Health in Waco · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Waco residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Waco, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

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

Fair or poor health
20.5%
About the same as MO (20.5%)
Obesity
37.7%
About the same as MO (36.6%)
No exercise
29.3%
About the same as MO (28.8%)
Uninsured
7.7%
About the same as MO (8.7%)
Feel lonely
31.2%
About the same as MO (31.7%)
Nearest ER
11.8 mi
Mercy Hospital Pittsburg
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Waco adults…

Waco runs above MO on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Waco adults have had cancer
Missouri: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 8.7–11%
Better than MOWorseAbout the sameMissouri
Getting care

Care in and near Waco

No hospital or community health center in Waco itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERMercy Hospital PittsburgPittsburg · 11.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMercy Hospital Carthage★★★★★ · 18.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Center of Southeast KansasPittsburg · 10.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
8.9 mi
Mercy Specialty Hospital Southeast Kansas
Galena · not rated
DirectionsMedicare profile
10.4 mi
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
5 sites · nearest in Pittsburg
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
11.7 mi
Ozark Tri-County Health Care Consortium
3 sites · nearest in Joplin
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
11.8 mi
Mercy Hospital Pittsburg
Pittsburg · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
13.9 mi
Freeman Health System - Freeman West
Joplin · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
14.4 mi
Mercy Hospital Columbus
Columbus · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Waco itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Waco itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Waco 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 Waco; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri

Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.

Get no exercise 29.3%MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 38.8%MO 36.5%
Binge drink 15.8%MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 16.4%MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Waco, betterWaco, worseAbout the sameMissouri
Where Waco gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

79%Yearly checkupMO 78%
60%Dentist visitMO 60%
85%Cholesterol checkMO 85%
66%Colon screeningMO 64%
76%MammogramMO 75%
80%Taking BP medsMO 77%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Waco 7.7% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection

How Waco adults are doing

About the same as Missouri on each measure.

1 in 3Waco adults feel lonely
31.2% · MO 31.7% · About the same as MO
1 in 5Waco adults lack social or emotional support
19.2% · MO 20.1% · About the same as MO
1 in 4Waco adults have been diagnosed with depression
25% · MO 24.3% · About the same as MO
1 in 6Waco adults are in frequent mental distress
17.4% · MO 17.5% · About the same as MO
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Waco 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.

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 9
Waco adults worry about having enough food
11% · MO 13.7%
About the same as MO
1 in 11
Waco adults worry about keeping their housing
9.5% · MO 12.1%
Better than MO
1 in 15
Waco adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.7% · MO 9%
Better than MO
1 in 14
Waco adults lack reliable transportation
7% · MO 8.4%
About the same as MO

8.4% of Waco adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.

Around town

Waco and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

36.7%

of Waco adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.2%
Thinking or memory17.1%
Hearing9.1%
Errands alone8.7%
Vision4.8%
Dressing or bathing3.9%
Missouri

Questions about health in Waco

Why doesn’t Waco have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Waco.

What hospital is closest to Waco?

Mercy Hospital Pittsburg in Pittsburg, 11.8 miles in a straight line from Waco’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Waco.

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. 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.