Buchanan County Health Data

Buchanan County, Missouri

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

35/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

73.4 yr

Uninsured Rate

12.1%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

73.4 yr

State avg 74.3 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

12.1%

State avg 12.5%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

66

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

223

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

19.8%

State avg 20.4%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

9.5

per 100K residentsCDC: 65.6 per 100K

Dentists

2.4

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

6.0

per 100K residents

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 Buchanan County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureBuchananState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity43.1%39.0%37.6%4.1 pts worse than state
Diabetes11.4%11.0%11.2%near state average
High Blood Pressure34.6%34.0%33.5%0.6 pts worse than state
Depression25.5%26.4%24.1%0.9 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureBuchananState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking19.1%19.4%16.3%near state average
Binge Drinking17.1%17.5%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity31.7%31.0%27.0%0.7 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureBuchananState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup76.2%75.8%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)58.0%55.4%57.3%2.6 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)72.1%71.9%73.3%near state average

Daily-life impact

MeasureBuchananState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress19.4%19.8%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration39.9%39.4%37.3%near state average

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Buchanan County nationally on obesity.

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Buchanan County Life Expectancy Trails Missouri and National Averages

Health data brief for Buchanan County, Missouri.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Life expectancy

Life expectancy in Buchanan County is 73.4 years, falling below the Missouri average of 74.3 years and the national average of 77 years. Regarding healthcare coverage, 12.1% of the population is uninsured, slightly lower than the Missouri average of 12.5% but higher than the 10% national rate. Data from the CDC shows that 19.8% of adults report fair or poor health, exceeding the national average of 17%. The county has 66 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, nearly matching the national median of 70. Mental health provider availability is 223 per 100,000, which is lower than the national median of 250 per 100,000. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Buchanan County, Missouri

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.

Mosaic Life Care at St Joseph

ER
4/5
(816) 271-6000
5325 Faraon Street, Saint Joseph, MO 64506
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehab Ctr

Not rated by CMS
(816) 387-2300
3505 Frederick Avenue, Saint Joseph, MO 64502
PsychiatricGovernment - State

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Buchanan County, MO?
Buchanan County has a health score of 35/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #60 out of 115 counties in Missouri (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Buchanan County?
Life expectancy in Buchanan County is 73.4 years. The Missouri state average is 74.3 years, making Buchanan County below the state average.
How does Buchanan County health compare to the Missouri average?
Buchanan County's health score of 35/100 is below the Missouri average of 38/100. Life expectancy is 73.4 years vs. the state average of 74.3 years. The uninsured rate is 12.1% vs. 12.5% statewide.
What health factors affect Buchanan County?
Key health factors for Buchanan County include: life expectancy (73.4 years), uninsured rate (12.1%), and primary care physician access (66:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 223:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Buchanan County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 35/100 ("Below Average"), Buchanan County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Missouri. Residents have a life expectancy of 73.4 years. 12.1% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in Buchanan County?
Buchanan County's health score of 35/100 is below the Missouri average of 38/100. The uninsured rate of 12.1% means a significant portion of residents may face barriers to healthcare. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

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.