Wellston’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Wellston differs from Missouri on 29 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wellston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wellston
Dental care lags in Wellston
40.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 43% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Wellston
1 in 3 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (32.1%), 4 times the Missouri rate. Food insecurity (45.8% vs 13.7%) and housing insecurity (37.1% vs 12.1%) are higher too. 47.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Wellston adults get no exercise
47.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.8% across Missouri. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Wellston
Grades next door run from University City (A−) to Pagedale (D−). Wellston is a D−. Around town ↓
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 Wellston’s likely range.
What’s behind Wellston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wellston is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Wellston’s estimates fall in the lowest 3% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 47.4% of adults, against 28.8% across Missouri and 24.7% 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). Wellston’s median household income is $44,957; among the 3,988 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$56K), it’s healthier than 0%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Wellston compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.7% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 10.8% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 81.7% (U.S. 77.4%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Wellston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
47.9% of Wellston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Wellston and the towns around it
Wellston’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellston | D− | 48.8% | 22.2% | 27.3% | CDC place |
| Hillsdale | D− | 46% | 18.2% | 22.9% | CDC place |
| University City | A− | 31% | 11.3% | 11% | CDC place |
| Pagedale | D− | 46% | 21.7% | 22.6% | CDC place |
| Normandy | C+ | 36% | 12.6% | 14.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Wellston adults…
Wellston runs below MO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of Wellston residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Wellston
No hospital or community health center in Wellston 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 Wellston; ≈ 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).
How Wellston adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Wellston runs above Missouri.
2 in 5 Wellston 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wellston adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wellston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wellston is better than Missouri on 4 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Wellston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wellston | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 38.4%34.2–43 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.6–22.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.4%20.8–26.1 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 48.8%44.4–53.3 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 22.2%19.9–24.6 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 51.5%48.4–54.6 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.5%32.5–38.5 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.1%29.6–34.8 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14.4%12.8–16.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12%10.4–13.9 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 43%37.2–48.9 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.3%23.5–31.3 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 47.4%42.5–52.3 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.8%9.2–12.7 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 47.7%43.2–52.4 | 36.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.5%11.4–18.1 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%79.1–84.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 40.1%36.6–43.6 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81%78.2–83.6 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77.7–81.9 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.7%51.6–61.7 | 64% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.6%67–81 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.5%19.9–25.4 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 41.6%37.9–45.7 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.9%28.3–35.8 | 20.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 45.8%40.1–51.1 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 37.1%32.9–41.5 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 32.1%28.7–35.5 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 24.9%21.9–28.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 47.9%42.1–53.4 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 51%46.5–55.5 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 28.1%25.1–31.3 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 26%22.7–29.6 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 13.2%11.6–15 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 18.8%16.4–21.5 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 10.1%8.8–11.6 | 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 Wellston
Is Wellston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wellston is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 0%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wellston?
CDC estimates 48.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 44.4% and 53.3%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wellston?
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis in Saint Louis, 3.0 miles in a straight line from Wellston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wellston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.4–18.1%), 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 Wellston more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wellston.
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.