Elk County Health Data
Elk County, Kansas
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
36/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
74.2 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.5%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
74.2 yr
State avg 75.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.5%
State avg 11.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
41
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
N/A
per 100K population
Poor / Fair Health
20.4%
State avg 16.7%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
81.2
per 100K residentsCDC: 41.0 per 100K
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Elk County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Elk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 40.5% | 38.9% | 37.6% | 1.6 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 11.0% | 10.2% | 11.2% | 0.8 pts worse than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 33.5% | 31.8% | 33.5% | 1.7 pts worse than state |
| Depression | 23.4% | 21.8% | 24.1% | 1.6 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Elk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 19.3% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 3.0 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 17.3% | 17.7% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 31.8% | 27.3% | 27.0% | 4.5 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Elk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 74.0% | 74.1% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 55.2% | 61.1% | 57.3% | 5.9 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 69.3% | 71.7% | 73.3% | 2.4 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Elk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 19.3% | 17.7% | 18.6% | 1.6 pts worse than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 39.4% | 35.6% | 37.3% | 3.8 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Elk County nationally on dental visit (past year).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Adults in Elk County report higher rates of poor health
Health data brief for Elk County, Kansas.
In Elk County, 20.4% of adults report being in poor or fair health, a rate that is higher than the national average of 17%. This metric sits alongside a life expectancy of 74.2 years, which is shorter than the Kansas state average of 75.4 years and the national average of 77 years. Access to healthcare providers is limited in the region, with 41 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, compared to a national median of 70. Currently, there are no mental health providers per 100,000 residents listed in the available workforce data. Regarding insurance, 12.5% of the population is uninsured, a figure that is higher than the Kansas state average of 11.5% and the national average of 10%. These data points offer a view of the current health landscape in the county. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Elk County, Kansas
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Elk County.
This is common in low-population rural counties. Residents typically travel to a hospital in a neighboring county or larger metro. Use Medicare.gov Care Compare to find rated hospitals statewide or contact a federally-funded community health center for primary and preventive care.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.