Photo: Ammodramus · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Columbus is healthier than 75%
Columbus trails Nebraska on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus
1 in 7 working-age adults in Columbus has no health insurance
13.4% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Nebraska. Checkups ↓
More Columbus adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (28.4%), vs 24.3% across Nebraska. Habits ↓
Columbus is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Columbus is healthier than 54%. Against the 9,860 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 75%. Health Grade ↓
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 Columbus’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Columbus’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns, #34 of 57 in Nebraska. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 90% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Columbus’ median household income is $64,626; among the 9,860 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 75%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Everyday habits, side by side with Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
3.3 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Columbus adults…
Columbus runs above NE on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Columbus
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Columbus, 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 Columbus; ≈ 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 Columbus adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Columbus 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.
10.5% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Columbus and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | B− | 42.5% | 11.9% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Columbus Township | B | 42.3% | 11.8% | 14.1% | ZIP 68601 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbus adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbus
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbus is better than Nebraska on 0 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Columbus’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbus | NE | U.S. | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.8%15.7–20.1 | 16.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 11.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.4–15.6 | 14.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.5%37.5–47.8 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.4–13.5 | 10.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%31.5–38 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%31.4–38.1 | 33% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.4%22.8–28 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.8%7.9–9.9 | 9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.4 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.8%6–7.7 | 6.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.9%11.6–16.9 | 12.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.3%12.4–16.5 | 13.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.4%24.8–32.3 | 24.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%16–21.8 | 19.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.9%24.3–34.1 | 31.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.4%11.8–15.3 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.2%73–79.3 | 75.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.2%57.9–64.7 | 64.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.5%81.8–85.3 | 83.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.5–80.6 | 77.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.6%57.9–67.3 | 62.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%71.5–84.1 | 75% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.2%13.9–18.7 | 18.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.4%24.2–32.8 | 29.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%18.6–25.1 | 20.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%12.5–17 | 12.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.8%9.2–12.5 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.2–8.3 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.5–8.5 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.5%8.9–12.4 | 8.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26.4–33.4 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.5%11.9–15.4 | 12% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.7%11.4–14.3 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 3.2% | 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 Nebraska figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Columbus
Is Columbus a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #34 of 57 in Nebraska. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbus?
CDC estimates 42.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.5% and 47.8%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbus?
Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Columbus’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbus have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.8–15.3%), 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 Columbus 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 Columbus.
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.