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Hamilton County courthouse, Aurora, Nebraska, USAPhoto: Public domain · Public domain
A−Health Grade
Health in Aurora · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Aurora is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns

Aurora differs from Nebraska on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 2 worse.

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Aurora

Cancer and arthritis run high in Aurora

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10%), vs 8.3% across Nebraska. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (28%), vs 24% across Nebraska. Conditions ↓

Fewer Aurora adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Nebraska. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

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 Nebraska figure falls outside Aurora’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Aurora’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Aurora is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, #16 of 57 in Nebraska. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 93% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 19%).

ASelf-rated health14.3% · NE 16.1% · U.S. 19.4%
APhysical distress11.5% · NE 11.6% · U.S. 13%
AMental distress13.3% · NE 14.1% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity40.4% · NE 37.7% · U.S. 32.9%
A−Diabetes10.2% · NE 10.7% · U.S. 12%
B+Smoking12% smoke · NE 13.2% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise24.2% · NE 24.3% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 75%
Less healthyHealthier
Nebraska towns we grade (57)Healthier than 73%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $58K–$97K (10,817)Healthier than 87%

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). Aurora’s median household income is $77,679; among the 10,817 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$97K), it’s healthier than 87%, about where its income would put it.

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

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Aurora adults…

Aurora runs below NE on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Aurora adults have had cancer
Nebraska: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 9–11.1%
Better than NEWorseAbout the sameNebraska
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 11
Aurora adults worry about having enough food
9% · NE 12.3%
Better than NE
1 in 14
Aurora adults worry about keeping their housing
7.2% · NE 9.5%
Better than NE
1 in 20
Aurora adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.1% · NE 6.4%
Better than NE
1 in 19
Aurora adults lack reliable transportation
5.2% · NE 6.7%
Better than NE

6.1% of Aurora adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.

Getting care

Care in and near Aurora

1 hospital in Aurora, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMemorial HospitalAurora · 0.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCHI Health St. Francis★★★★★ · 19.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHeartland Health CenterGrand Island · 19.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.6 mi
Memorial Hospital
Aurora · not rated
ERRural critical accessIn Aurora
11.8 mi
Henderson Community Hospital
Henderson · not rated
ERRural critical access
16.8 mi
Merrick Medical Center
Central City · not rated
ERRural critical access
19.1 mi
Heartland Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Grand Island
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
19.4 mi
CHI Health St. Francis
Grand Island · ★★★★★
ER
52.5 mi
East Central District Health Department/Good Neighbor Community Health Center
Columbus · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
✓ Primary careAurora is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careAurora is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Aurora 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 Aurora; ≈ 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 Nebraska

Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.

Get no exercise 24.2%NE 24.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 33.6%NE 31.3%
Binge drink 19.5%NE 19.7%
Smoke cigarettes 12%NE 13.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Aurora, betterAurora, worseAbout the sameNebraska
Where Aurora gets moving

0.6 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

78%Yearly checkupNE 76%
69%Dentist visitNE 64%
86%Cholesterol checkNE 84%
63%Colon screeningNE 62%
79%MammogramNE 75%
81%Taking BP medsNE 78%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Aurora 7% · Nebraska 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection

How Aurora adults are doing

About the same as Nebraska on each measure.

3 in 10Aurora adults feel lonely
27.9% · NE 29.3% · About the same as NE
1 in 5Aurora adults lack social or emotional support
18.7% · NE 20.5% · About the same as NE
1 in 6Aurora adults have been diagnosed with depression
17.1% · NE 18.3% · About the same as NE
1 in 8Aurora adults are in frequent mental distress
13.3% · NE 14.1% · About the same as NE
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Aurora 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

Aurora and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
AuroraA−40.4%10.2%12%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

28.1%

of Aurora adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs12.5%
Thinking or memory10.9%
Hearing8.2%
Errands alone6.5%
Vision3.8%
Dressing or bathing3%
Nebraska

Every CDC estimate for Aurora

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Aurora is better than Nebraska on 9 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Aurora’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…AuroraNEU.S.vs NE
Overall health
Fair or poor health14.3%11.9–16.916.1%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)11.5%9.7–13.211.6%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)13.3%11.4–15.214.1%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity40.4%33.3–47.637.7%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.2%8.7–11.810.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure34%30.2–37.932.6%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35.2%31.2–39.233%37.1%About the same
Arthritis28%24.8–31.224%25.3%Worse
Asthma9.3%8.2–10.49%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10%9–11.18.3%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease6.7%5.7–7.76.1%6.4%About the same
COPD6.2%5–7.36.1%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.3%2.8–3.83.1%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)9.8%7.7–12.312.4%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes12%9.5–14.513.2%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work24.2%19.7–28.924.3%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking19.5%16.3–2319.7%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours33.6%27–40.631.3%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7%5.5–8.89.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year77.7%74.1–8175.9%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year68.5%64.9–72.164.3%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.2%84.2–88.283.7%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)80.5%77.8–8377.5%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)62.8%57.3–67.962.3%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.8%70.6–85.275%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression17.1%14.4–2018.3%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely27.9%23.1–32.829.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support18.7%15.5–22.220.5%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9%6.9–11.312.3%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing7.2%5.6–8.89.5%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.1%4.1–6.16.4%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation5.2%4.3–6.26.7%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)6.1%4.5–7.98.5%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability28.1%23.8–32.427.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs12.5%10.3–14.812%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering10.9%9.2–12.612.1%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.2%7.1–9.47.3%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty3.8%3.2–4.44.4%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone6.5%5.4–7.66.9%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3%2.5–3.43.2%3.8%About the same

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 Nebraska figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Aurora

Is Aurora a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Aurora is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #16 of 57 in Nebraska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 87%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Aurora?

CDC estimates 40.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.3% and 47.6%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Aurora?

Memorial Hospital in Aurora, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Aurora’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Aurora have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–8.8%), against 9.9% across Nebraska.

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 Aurora more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.

Neighbors talk health

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

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Nebraska 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.