Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Gretna is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Gretna beats Nebraska on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gretna. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gretna
Gretna ranks #2 for health in Nebraska
Out of 57 Nebraska towns with a Health Grade, Gretna is #2 on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 94% of towns. Health Grade ↓
Gretna keeps up with checkups
It beats Nebraska on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.6% vs 64.3%) and cholesterol checks (86.8% vs 83.7%). Checkups ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Gretna
Gretna runs below Nebraska on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.3% vs 6.1%), heart disease (4.7% vs 6.1%) and stroke (2.4% vs 3.1%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Nebraska 17%). Conditions ↓
Gretna is an active town
Only 18.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.3% across Nebraska. Habits ↓
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 Gretna’s likely range.
What’s behind Gretna’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gretna is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #2 of 57 in Nebraska. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 98% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 67%.
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). Gretna’s median household income is $123,992; among the 5,169 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($93K–$155K), it’s healthier than 89%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gretna adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Out of every 100 Gretna adults…
Gretna runs below NE on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Gretna residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nebraska. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
5.8 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Care in and near Gretna
No hospital or community health center in Gretna itself. These are the nearest.
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 Gretna; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Gretna adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Gretna does better than Nebraska.
1 in 4 Gretna 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.
4.1% of Gretna adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Gretna 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gretna adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gretna
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gretna is better than Nebraska on 21 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Gretna’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gretna | NE | U.S. | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.4%9.8–13.2 | 16.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.3%8.2–10.7 | 11.6% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.5%11.1–14.1 | 14.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%29.9–37.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.5%7.4–9.7 | 10.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.9%27.4–32.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.4%29.7–35.1 | 33% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.4%20.3–24.6 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.9–9.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.7%4.2–5.4 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.3%3.7–5.1 | 6.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.5%6.1–9.2 | 12.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.5%7.8–11.5 | 13.2% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.5%16–21.3 | 24.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.5%16.3–21 | 19.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.3%27.3–35.6 | 31.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.4–6.8 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%75.2–80.3 | 75.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.6%70.9–76.3 | 64.3% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85.1–88.4 | 83.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.7–79.7 | 77.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.2%63.3–71.1 | 62.3% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.8%75.4–85.7 | 75% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.6%15.4–20 | 18.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 26.8%23.2–30.6 | 29.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 16%13.5–18.7 | 20.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.5%5.2–8 | 12.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.7%4.6–6.9 | 9.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.1%3.4–4.9 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.1%3.5–4.9 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.1%3.2–5.2 | 8.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22%19.5–24.8 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.9%7.6–10.4 | 12% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.3%8.1–10.7 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.5–7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.5–3.3 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.1%4.4–5.9 | 6.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 3.2% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Gretna
Is Gretna a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gretna is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #2 of 57 in Nebraska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gretna?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.9% and 37.5%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gretna?
CHI Health Lakeside in Omaha, 7.6 miles in a straight line from Gretna’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gretna have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.4–6.8%), 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 Gretna more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gretna.
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.