Photo: Hanyou23 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Lincoln as a whole is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Lincoln differs from Nebraska on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lincoln. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lincoln
What’s behind Lincoln’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lincoln is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #10 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 93% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 58%.
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). Lincoln’s median household income is $71,867; among the 10,660 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 95%, about where its income would put it.
At 301,522 residents, Lincoln is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Lincoln
4 hospitals and 1 community health center in Lincoln, 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 Lincoln; ≈ 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 Lincoln adults…
Lincoln runs below NE on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 134 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lincoln adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
How Lincoln adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lincoln runs above Nebraska.
1 in 3 Lincoln 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.
10.3% of Lincoln adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Lincoln 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | A− | 35.1% | 9.5% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Yankee Hill | — | — | — | — | |
| Walton | — | — | — | — | |
| Cheney | — | — | — | — |
Yankee Hill, Walton and Cheney: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lincoln adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lincoln
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lincoln is better than Nebraska on 9 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Lincoln’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lincoln | NE | U.S. | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.6%14–17.1 | 16.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.5%9.5–11.6 | 11.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.7–16.6 | 14.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.1%32–38.1 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.5%8.4–10.5 | 10.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.6%27.5–31.7 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.5%28.3–32.6 | 33% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 22%20.2–23.6 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.4–10.3 | 9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.8–8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%5–6.1 | 6.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–2.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.1%7.6–11 | 12.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.5%11.1–13.8 | 13.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21%18.8–23.1 | 24.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20.6%18.5–22.7 | 19.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.3%27–34.1 | 31.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%8.5–10.7 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.2%72.8–77.3 | 75.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%62.9–68.4 | 64.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.1%79.4–82.6 | 83.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.1%72.8–77.2 | 77.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.3%59.5–67.1 | 62.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%70.7–81.6 | 75% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%18.8–23 | 18.3% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%27.8–34.7 | 29.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%18.4–23.8 | 20.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.4%11.8–15.1 | 12.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%8.8–11.6 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6.2–8.1 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.8–8.6 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.3%9–11.8 | 8.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.6%24.2–28.8 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.5%9.4–11.6 | 12% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.8%11.5–14 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.6 | 4.4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.7–8.1 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.3 | 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 Lincoln
Is Lincoln a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lincoln is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #10 of 57 in Nebraska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lincoln?
CDC estimates 35.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 32% and 38.1%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lincoln?
Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Lincoln’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lincoln have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–10.7%), 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln.
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.