Photo: JBTHEMILKER · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Howard residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Howard, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Howard. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Howard
Howard is short on primary care and mental health care
Howard’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 ↓
Cancer and heart disease run high in Howard
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 8.7% across Ohio. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 7.1% across Ohio. Conditions ↓
Fewer Howard adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Ohio. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Ohio figure falls outside Howard’s likely range.
Care in and near Howard
No hospital or community health center in Howard 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 Howard; ≈ 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 Howard adults…
Howard runs above OH on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8% of Howard adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Howard adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Howard adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
1 in 3 Howard 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.
Howard 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 Howard adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Howard
Why doesn’t Howard have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Howard.
What hospital is closest to Howard?
Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, 6.4 miles in a straight line from Howard’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Howard?
7 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Knox County Dental in Danville, 4.2 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Howard.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio 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.