Photo: Ammodramus · Public domainWhere Nelson residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Nelson, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Nelson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nelson
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Nelson
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12%), vs 8.3% across Nebraska. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.4%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. Arthritis is also above the state: 32%, vs 24% across Nebraska. In all, Nelson runs above Nebraska on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 35% of residents are 65 or older (Nebraska 17%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Nelson, and more people treating it
40.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Nebraska 32.6%), but 82.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.5% statewide. Checkups ↓
Nelson is short on primary care and mental health care
Nelson’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Nelson keeps up with checkups
It beats Nebraska on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (79.7% vs 75.9%) and cholesterol checks (87.8% vs 83.7%). 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 Nelson’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Nelson adults…
Nelson runs below NE on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Nelson is an older town: 35% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nebraska. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Nelson as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Nelson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Care in and near Nelson
No hospital or community health center in Nelson 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 Nelson; ≈ 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 Nelson adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
1 in 4 Nelson 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.
6.8% of Nelson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Nelson 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 Nelson adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Nelson
Why doesn’t Nelson have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Nelson.
What hospital is closest to Nelson?
Brodstone Healthcare in Superior, 12.1 miles in a straight line from Nelson’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 Nelson.
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.