Richard R. Kiddle House · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0Where Friend residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Friend, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Friend. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Friend
Heart disease, cancer and stroke run high in Friend
1 in 13 adults have heart disease (8%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.8%), vs 8.3% across Nebraska. Stroke is also above the state: 4%, vs 3.1% across Nebraska. In all, Friend runs above Nebraska on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Friend, and more people treating it
37.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Nebraska 32.6%), but 82.2% 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 Friend’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Friend adults…
Friend runs above NE on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Friend residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nebraska. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Friend adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Care in and near Friend
1 hospital in Friend, 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 Friend; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Friend adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Friend 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.
7.9% of Friend adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Friend 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 Friend adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Friend
Why doesn’t Friend have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Friend.
What hospital is closest to Friend?
Fillmore County Hospital in Geneva, 18.1 miles in a straight line from Friend’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Friend.
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.