Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Cowles

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
–Not graded
Health in Cowles · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Cowles residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Cowles, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 68930. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Cowles

Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Cowles

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 8.3% across Nebraska. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29.3%), vs 24% across Nebraska. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.4%, vs 6.1% across Nebraska. In all, Cowles runs above Nebraska on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

More high blood pressure in Cowles, and more people treating it

36.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Nebraska 32.6%), but 80.4% 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 Cowles’ likely range; Cowles’ figures come from ZIP code 68930, which may reach past town lines.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Cowles adults…

Cowles runs below NE on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Cowles adults have had cancer
Nebraska: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 9.4–11.4%
Better than NEWorseAbout the sameNebraska
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

76%Yearly checkupNE 76%
67%Dentist visitNE 64%
86%Cholesterol checkNE 84%
63%Colon screeningNE 62%
76%MammogramNE 75%
80%Taking BP medsNE 78%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Cowles 7.5% · Nebraska 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Getting care

Care in and near Cowles

No hospital or community health center in Cowles itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERWebster County Community HospitalRed Cloud · 6.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHeartland Health CenterHastings · 29.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
6.9 mi
Webster County Community Hospital
Red Cloud · not rated
ERRural critical access
22.6 mi
Brodstone Healthcare
Superior · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
27.1 mi
Franklin County Memorial Hospital
Franklin · not rated
ERRural critical access
29.2 mi
Mary Lanning Healthcare
Hastings · ★★★★★
ER
29.9 mi
Heartland Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Hastings
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
100.2 mi
First Care Clinic
3 sites · nearest in Hays
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Cowles itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Cowles itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Cowles 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 Cowles; ≈ 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 25.6%NE 24.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 30.1%NE 31.3%
Binge drink 19%NE 19.7%
Smoke cigarettes 13.7%NE 13.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Cowles, betterCowles, worseAbout the sameNebraska
Where Cowles gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Cowles adults are doing

About the same as Nebraska on each measure.

3 in 10Cowles adults feel lonely
27.6% · NE 29.3% · About the same as NE
1 in 5Cowles adults lack social or emotional support
19.3% · NE 20.5% · About the same as NE
1 in 6Cowles adults have been diagnosed with depression
17.7% · NE 18.3% · About the same as NE
1 in 7Cowles adults are in frequent mental distress
13.4% · NE 14.1% · About the same as NE
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Cowles 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.

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 10
Cowles adults worry about having enough food
10.2% · NE 12.3%
About the same as NE
1 in 13
Cowles adults worry about keeping their housing
7.7% · NE 9.5%
Better than NE
1 in 18
Cowles adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.5% · NE 6.4%
About the same as NE
1 in 17
Cowles adults lack reliable transportation
5.8% · NE 6.7%
About the same as NE

7.5% of Cowles adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.

Around town

Cowles and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29.8%

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

Walking or climbing stairs14.1%
Thinking or memory11.6%
Hearing9%
Errands alone7.3%
Vision4.4%
Dressing or bathing3.5%
Nebraska

Questions about health in Cowles

Why doesn’t Cowles have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Cowles.

What hospital is closest to Cowles?

Webster County Community Hospital in Red Cloud, 6.9 miles in a straight line from Cowles’ 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 Cowles.

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. 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.