Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Elko is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns
Elko differs from Nevada on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elko. How CDC estimates town health
What’s behind Elko’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elko is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns, #26 of 42 in Nevada. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 78% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Elko’s median household income is $79,036; among the 10,788 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$99K), it’s healthier than 36%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Elko compares well: high blood pressure, 29.7% (U.S. 34.4%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.5% (U.S. 7.9%); coronary heart disease, 5.5% (U.S. 6.4%).
Out of every 100 Elko adults…
Elko runs below NV on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Elko residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nevada. Heart disease, stroke and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Elko
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Elko, 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 Elko; ≈ 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 Nevada
Share of adults, with the Nevada figure marked.
38 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Elko adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nevada.
How Elko adults are doing
About the same as Nevada on each measure.
1 in 3 Elko 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.
15.4% of Elko adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Nevada.
Elko and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elko | C+ | 37.5% | 10.2% | 16.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elko adults live with a disability (Nevada 33.7%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elko
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elko is better than Nevada on 5 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Nevada figure falls inside Elko’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elko | NV | U.S. | vs NV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.1–24.6 | 22.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.9–16.5 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.2–21.8 | 18.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.5%30.4–44.9 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.2%8.8–11.8 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.7%25.9–33.6 | 34% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%29.7–38.2 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23%20.1–26 | 24.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 10.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–6.1 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.7%6–7.5 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.5%13.4–20.1 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4%14.2–18.8 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.6%21.5–30.2 | 26.2% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%15.1–22 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.7%32.4–45.4 | 39.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.8%12.7–17 | 14.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.8%65–74 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%52–60.3 | 58.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.3%78.7–83.6 | 84.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.9%65.2–72.2 | 72.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.1%52.5–63.7 | 58.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.2%61.4–78.1 | 69.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%18.3–25.6 | 20.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%29.7–40 | 36.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%21.6–29.5 | 27.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.2%15.7–20.8 | 18% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.4%13.3–17.7 | 15.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 9.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.4%9.2–11.8 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.4%13.1–17.9 | 15.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.2%29.8–38.8 | 33.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.5%11.8–15.3 | 15.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%15.8–20 | 15.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.2–7.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 5.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%8–10 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 4.1% | 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 Nevada figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Elko
Is Elko a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elko is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #26 of 42 in Nevada. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 36%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elko?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.4% and 44.9%, against 31.3% across Nevada and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elko?
Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital in Elko, 2.3 miles in a straight line from Elko’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elko have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.7–17%), against 14.5% across Nevada.
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 Elko more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Elko.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Nevada 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.