Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Omaha as a whole is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns
Omaha differs from Nebraska on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Omaha. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Omaha
Making ends meet is harder in Omaha
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16.5%), vs 12.3% across Nebraska. Utility shut-off threats (8.7% vs 6.4%) and housing insecurity (12.6% vs 9.5%) are higher too. 12.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Omaha has eight hospitals within its borders
8 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Omaha. The Nebraska Medical Center 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 Omaha’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind Omaha’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Omaha is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #23 of 57 in Nebraska. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 85% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 40%).
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). Omaha’s median household income is $73,201; among the 10,759 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
At 488,797 residents, Omaha is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.5% of Omaha adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Care in and near Omaha
8 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Omaha.
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 Omaha; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Omaha adults…
Omaha runs below NE on 3 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.
81 miles of trails across 229 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Omaha adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
How Omaha adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Omaha 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.
Omaha and the towns around it
Omaha’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 graded towns around it.
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 Omaha adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Omaha
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Omaha is better than Nebraska on 3 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Omaha’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Omaha | NE | U.S. | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.3%15.8–18.8 | 16.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.6%10.5–12.7 | 11.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.9–16.6 | 14.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.5%34.6–40.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.2%9.2–11.3 | 10.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.7%28.7–32.7 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.8%29.7–34 | 33% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.4%19.8–23.1 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.9%8.1–9.9 | 9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.6–7.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 6.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.5%8.9–12.5 | 12.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.2%12.9–15.6 | 13.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.6%21.6–25.7 | 24.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20%18.1–22.1 | 19.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32%28.9–35.3 | 31.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%10.9–13.3 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%72.9–77.4 | 75.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.4%60.8–66 | 64.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%81.2–84.1 | 83.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75%72.7–77.2 | 77.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.8%60.2–67.2 | 62.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%71.7–81.4 | 75% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%17.3–21.1 | 18.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.8%26.8–32.9 | 29.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22%19.6–24.6 | 20.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.5%14.9–18.2 | 12.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.6%11.2–14.1 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.9–9.7 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.5%11.2–13.9 | 8.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.5%25.5–29.7 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.7%10.7–12.8 | 12% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.3%12.2–14.6 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.5–6.6 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.8–5.6 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.7–8 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.8 | 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 Omaha
Is Omaha a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Omaha is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #23 of 57 in Nebraska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Omaha?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 40.5%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Omaha?
The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Omaha’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Omaha have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.9–13.3%), 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 Omaha 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 Omaha.
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.