Dundy County Courthouse · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0Where Benkelman residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Benkelman, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Benkelman. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benkelman
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Benkelman
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.6%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. Stroke is also above the state: 4.3%, vs 3.1% across Nebraska. In all, Benkelman runs above Nebraska on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Nebraska 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Benkelman, and more people treating it
40.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Nebraska 32.6%), but 82.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.5% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Benkelman’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Benkelman adults…
Benkelman runs above NE on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Benkelman is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nebraska. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Benkelman as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Benkelman adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Care in and near Benkelman
1 hospital in Benkelman, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Benkelman; ≈ 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 Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Benkelman adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Benkelman 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.
8.8% of Benkelman adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Benkelman and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Benkelman adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Benkelman
Why doesn’t Benkelman have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Benkelman.
What hospital is closest to Benkelman?
Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Benkelman’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Benkelman.
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. 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.