Fort Phil Kearny and Associated Sites · Photo: Gcoudert at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Story is healthier than 36%
Story differs from Wyoming on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Story. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Story
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Story
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.9%), vs 8.9% across Wyoming. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.8%), vs 6.5% across Wyoming. Arthritis is also above the state: 33.7%, vs 25.4% across Wyoming. In all, Story runs above Wyoming on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (Wyoming 19%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Story’s lead shrinks
Story is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, but 36% of the 6,671 towns with similar household incomes ($85K–$142K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Story, and more people treating it
40.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Wyoming 31.7%), but 79.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 73% statewide. Checkups ↓
Story keeps up with checkups
It beats Wyoming on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (76.5% vs 69.7%) and dentist visits (72% vs 62.7%). 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 Wyoming figure falls outside Story’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Story’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Story is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 94% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 30%).
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). Story’s median household income is $113,590; among the 6,671 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($85K–$142K), it’s healthier than 36%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Story adults…
Story runs above WY on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Story is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wyoming. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Story as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Story adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wyoming.
Care in and near Story
No hospital or community health center in Story 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 Story; ≈ 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 Wyoming
Share of adults, with the Wyoming figure marked.
2.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Story adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Story does better than Wyoming.
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.
4.3% of Story adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.1% across Wyoming.
Story and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story | B+ | 31.2% | 13.4% | 13% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Story adults live with a disability (Wyoming 30.7%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Story
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Story is better than Wyoming on 13 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Wyoming figure falls inside Story’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Story | WY | U.S. | vs WY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.1%15.4–21.5 | 18.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.4–16.6 | 13.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.2–14.8 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.2%25.7–37.3 | 33.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.5–15.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.5%36.4–44.8 | 31.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%34.4–42.4 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.7%30.1–37.6 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.4 | 10.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.9%11.6–14.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–10 | 6.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.6%7.2–10.4 | 7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.7–4.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.5%10.1–15 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%10.5–16 | 14% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%19.4–28.1 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.7%10.4–15.1 | 15.4% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.3%22.6–32 | 32.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.4–10.4 | 11.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.5%72.8–79.7 | 69.7% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72%68.6–75 | 62.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.4%87.6–91 | 82.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%76.4–82.9 | 73% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%66.2–75.3 | 59.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.4%63.3–78 | 67.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%18.6–25.1 | 21.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.6%15.9–21.5 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 9.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.5%5.6–7.4 | 9.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 6.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.3%3.6–5.1 | 6.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.6%27.4–36.3 | 30.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%12.8–18 | 13.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%9.8–13.4 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 4.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.1%6.1–8.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.2–4.4 | 3.5% | 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 Wyoming figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Story
Is Story a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Story is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Story?
CDC estimates 31.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.7% and 37.3%, against 33.7% across Wyoming and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Story?
Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Sheridan, 16.5 miles in a straight line from Story’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Story have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–10.4%), against 11.6% across Wyoming.
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 Story more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Story.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Wyoming 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.