Saline County Bank · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0Where Western residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Western, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Western. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Western
Heart disease, cancer and arthritis run high in Western
1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.2%), vs 8.3% across Nebraska. Arthritis is also above the state: 31.3%, vs 24% across Nebraska. In all, Western runs above Nebraska on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Western, and more people treating it
38.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Nebraska 32.6%), but 83% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.5% statewide. 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 Western’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Western adults…
Western runs above NE on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Western adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Care in and near Western
No hospital or community health center in Western 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 Western; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Western adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Western 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.
7% of Western adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Western 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 Western adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Western
Why doesn’t Western have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Western.
What hospital is closest to Western?
Jefferson Community Health & Life in Fairbury, 16.5 miles in a straight line from Western’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Western.
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.