Gering Courier Building · Photo: Ammodramus · Public domainWithin Nebraska, Gering is healthier than 36% of graded towns
Gering differs from Nebraska on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gering. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gering
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Gering
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.4%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.1%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. Stroke is also above the state: 3.6%, vs 3.1% across Nebraska. In all, Gering runs above Nebraska on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Gering has a community health center but no hospital
Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, 4 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Gering’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Gering’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gering is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns, #37 of 57 in Nebraska. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 86% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 31%).
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). Gering’s median household income is $75,093; among the 10,849 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$94K), it’s healthier than 61%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Gering adults…
Gering runs below NE on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gering
1 community health center in Gering, 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 Gering; ≈ 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.
4 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Gering adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
How Gering adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
1 in 3 Gering 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.
10.1% of Gering adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Gering and the towns around it
Gering’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gering | B− | 38.6% | 12.3% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Terrytown | B+ | 37.2% | 10.7% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Scottsbluff | C+ | 39.9% | 13.5% | 14.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gering adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gering
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gering is better than Nebraska on 1 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Gering’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gering | NE | U.S. | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.9%16.1–21.8 | 16.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.4%11.5–15.1 | 11.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.7–16.3 | 14.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.6%32.8–44.4 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.6–14 | 10.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.8%33.1–40.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%30.1–37.6 | 33% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8%24.8–30.8 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.3–10.6 | 9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.2–8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.4%6.2–8.6 | 6.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.2–4.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.6–11.3 | 12.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%11.8–16.6 | 13.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.3%23.9–32.5 | 24.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15.3–21.1 | 19.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9%27.8–38.4 | 31.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.3%9.3–13.4 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.7–79.9 | 75.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.4%55.9–62.9 | 64.3% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%81.9–85.6 | 83.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%77–81.8 | 77.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.5%57.7–67 | 62.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%66.2–80 | 75% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.9%15.2–20.8 | 18.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%26.3–35.9 | 29.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.7%17.3–24 | 20.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%12.1–17.1 | 12.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.5%8.8–12.3 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%5.8–8 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.1%8.2–12 | 8.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%29–37.3 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%12.7–17.3 | 12% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.2%11.4–14.9 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.6–6 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%6.9–9.1 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.3–4.4 | 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 Gering
Is Gering a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gering is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #37 of 57 in Nebraska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 61%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gering?
CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.8% and 44.4%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gering?
Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, 4.0 miles in a straight line from Gering’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gering have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–13.4%), 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 Gering 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 Gering.
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.