Howard County Health Data
Howard County, Missouri
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
49/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
76.1 yr
Uninsured Rate
10.6%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
76.1 yr
State avg 74.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
10.6%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
39
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
79
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
19.5%
State avg 20.4%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Dentists
9.9
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 Howard County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 36.0% | 39.0% | 37.6% | 3.0 pts better than state |
| Diabetes | 10.1% | 11.0% | 11.2% | 0.9 pts better than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 32.8% | 34.0% | 33.5% | 1.2 pts better than state |
| Depression | 26.2% | 26.4% | 24.1% | near state average |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 17.0% | 19.4% | 16.3% | 2.4 pts better than state |
| Binge Drinking | 18.2% | 17.5% | 17.8% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 28.3% | 31.0% | 27.0% | 2.7 pts better than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 76.4% | 75.8% | 74.9% | 0.6 pts better than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 57.3% | 55.4% | 57.3% | 1.9 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 71.8% | 71.9% | 73.3% | near state average |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.8% | 19.8% | 18.6% | 1.0 pts better than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 38.6% | 39.4% | 37.3% | 0.8 pts better than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Howard County nationally on obesity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Howard County Primary Care Ratio Below National Benchmarks
Health data brief for Howard County, Missouri.
Primary care providers in Howard County are available at a rate of 39 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national median of approximately 70 per 100,000. The local healthcare landscape also includes 79 mental health providers per 100,000 people, a figure lower than the national median of 250. Life expectancy is 76.1 years, which is higher than the Missouri average of 74.3 years but lower than the national average of 77 years. The uninsured rate is 10.6%, which is lower than the 12.5% Missouri average and close to the 10% national average. About 19.5% of adults in the county report poor or fair health, compared to the national average of 17%. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Howard 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 Howard 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.