On CDC estimates, Willard is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns
Willard differs from Missouri on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Willard. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Willard
Diabetes and heart disease are less common in Willard
Willard runs below Missouri on five chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (9.1% vs 12.1%), heart disease (5.2% vs 6.8%) and stroke (2.8% vs 3.6%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Missouri 18%). Conditions ↓
Willard is an active town
Only 23.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.8% across Missouri. Habits ↓
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 Willard’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Willard’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Willard is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns, #59 of 247 in Missouri. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 90% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 28%).
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). Willard’s median household income is $84,600; among the 10,430 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$106K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Willard adults…
Willard runs below MO on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Willard residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Willard
No hospital or community health center in Willard 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 Willard; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Willard adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
How Willard adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
1 in 3 Willard 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.1% of Willard adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Willard and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willard | B | 36% | 9.1% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Springfield | C | 37.7% | 11.1% | 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 Willard adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Willard
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Willard is better than Missouri on 10 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Willard’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Willard | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17%14.6–19.8 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.5–15 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.1–20.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36%30.3–42.5 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.1%7.8–10.5 | 12.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.8%26.5–33.4 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.3%29.9–37.2 | 37.5% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.9%23.1–28.9 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.3 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.6%5.6–7.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.7%9.6–14.1 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%12.5–17.9 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.3%19.4–27.7 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.4–20.5 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%33–43.9 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.4%5.8–9.2 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%73–80 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.4%56.9–63.8 | 60.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.8%81.3–86 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.8%70.6–76.8 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.2%54.3–63.9 | 64% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.6%67.2–80.8 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%22–28.9 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32%27.3–36.7 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.7%15.7–22 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.1%8.9–13.7 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.5%8.6–12.5 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.6%6.4–9 | 9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.1–8.4 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.1%6.4–10 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%29–37.9 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.6%10.7–14.6 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%14.9–19.6 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.7 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.1%7–9.3 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.6–3.5 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Willard
Is Willard a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Willard is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #59 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Willard?
CDC estimates 36% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 42.5%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Willard?
Cox Medical Centers in Springfield, 10.0 miles in a straight line from Willard’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Willard have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–9.2%), 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 Willard more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Willard.
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.