Photo: MMarshall at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Kearney is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns
Kearney differs from Nebraska on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kearney. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kearney
Kearney is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Kearney is healthier than 76%. Against the 10,497 towns with similar household incomes ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 92%. Health Grade ↓
Kearney has a top-rated hospital
CHI Health Good Samaritan is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. 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 Kearney’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Kearney’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kearney is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns, #14 of 57 in Nebraska. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 92% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 41%).
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). Kearney’s median household income is $69,724; among the 10,497 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 92%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Care in and near Kearney
2 hospitals in Kearney, 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 Kearney; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Kearney adults…
Kearney runs below NE on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
8.2 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kearney adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
How Kearney adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Kearney 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.
9.3% of Kearney adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Kearney and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kearney adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kearney
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kearney is better than Nebraska on 5 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Kearney’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kearney | NE | U.S. | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.4%13.5–17.4 | 16.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 11.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%14–17.6 | 14.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.4%32.4–42.7 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.9%7.7–10.1 | 10.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.2%27.3–33.3 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.2%27.2–33.3 | 33% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.5%19.3–23.8 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.5–10.7 | 9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.8–5.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%5–6.2 | 6.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.4%9.3–13.7 | 12.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.7–14.2 | 13.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.8%20.5–27.3 | 24.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.3%18.4–24.5 | 19.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32%27.1–37.1 | 31.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%8.3–11 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74%70.7–77.2 | 75.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.4%59.1–65.7 | 64.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.8%77.7–81.9 | 83.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.4%72–76.6 | 77.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%57.3–66.6 | 62.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%67.3–80.8 | 75% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.9%16.3–21.8 | 18.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.5%26.1–35.3 | 29.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%17.8–24.1 | 20.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.3%11.5–15.3 | 12.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.6%8.2–11.1 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.8–7.7 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.3%7.9–10.8 | 8.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.4%23.2–29.7 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.4%9.1–11.7 | 12% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.3%11.9–14.8 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 4.4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.7–3.2 | 3.2% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Kearney
Is Kearney a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kearney is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #14 of 57 in Nebraska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kearney?
CDC estimates 37.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 42.7%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kearney?
CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Kearney’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kearney have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.3–11%), 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 Kearney more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kearney.
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.