Carter County Health Data
Carter County, Missouri
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
21/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
71.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
13.2%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
71.5 yr
State avg 74.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
13.2%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
19
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
151
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
22.7%
State avg 20.4%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
19.0
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 Carter County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Carter | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 39.8% | 39.0% | 37.6% | 0.8 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 12.2% | 11.0% | 11.2% | 1.2 pts worse than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 36.5% | 34.0% | 33.5% | 2.5 pts worse than state |
| Depression | 28.3% | 26.4% | 24.1% | 1.9 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Carter | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 23.1% | 19.4% | 16.3% | 3.7 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 17.2% | 17.5% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 34.8% | 31.0% | 27.0% | 3.8 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Carter | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 75.9% | 75.8% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 52.3% | 55.4% | 57.3% | 3.1 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 69.7% | 71.9% | 73.3% | 2.2 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Carter | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 21.5% | 19.8% | 18.6% | 1.7 pts worse than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 38.4% | 39.4% | 37.3% | 1.0 pts better than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Carter County nationally on physical inactivity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Carter County Primary Care Provider Ratio Trends Below State Norms
Health data brief for Carter County, Missouri.
Carter County reports 19 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the national median of 70 per 100,000. For mental health services, the county has 151 providers per 100,000, while the national median is 250. The life expectancy in Carter County is 71.5 years, a figure lower than both the Missouri state average of 74.3 years and the national average of 77 years. About 22.7% of adults in the county report being in poor or fair health, which is higher than the national average of 17%. The uninsured rate in Carter County stands at 13.2%, which is higher than the state average of 12.5% and the national average of 10%. These statistics are sourced from federal and state health databases for regional reporting. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Carter 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.
Hospitals near you
No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Carter 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.