Howell County Health Data

Howell County, Missouri

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

23/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

72.6 yr

Uninsured Rate

13.0%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

72.6 yr

State avg 74.3 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

13.0%

State avg 12.5%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

88

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

260

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

23.5%

State avg 20.4%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

10.0

per 100K residentsCDC: 87.6 per 100K

Dentists

2.5

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

17.4

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 Howell County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureHowellState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity36.8%39.0%37.6%2.2 pts better than state
Diabetes12.0%11.0%11.2%1.0 pts worse than state
High Blood Pressure35.1%34.0%33.5%1.1 pts worse than state
Depression28.1%26.4%24.1%1.7 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureHowellState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking22.1%19.4%16.3%2.7 pts worse than state
Binge Drinking16.2%17.5%17.8%1.3 pts better than state
Physical Inactivity32.6%31.0%27.0%1.6 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureHowellState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup75.5%75.8%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)50.6%55.4%57.3%4.8 pts worse than state
Mammography (women 50–74)72.0%71.9%73.3%near state average

Daily-life impact

MeasureHowellState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress21.0%19.8%18.6%1.2 pts worse than state
Short Sleep Duration40.2%39.4%37.3%0.8 pts worse than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Howell 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

Howell County Uninsured Rate Higher Than State Average

Health data brief for Howell County, Missouri.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Uninsured rate

The uninsured rate in Howell County is 13.0%, which is higher than the Missouri state average of 12.5% and the national average of 10%. Life expectancy in the county is 72.6 years, lower than the state average of 74.3 years and the national average of 77 years. Clinically, the county has 88 primary care providers and 260 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, both of which are higher than the national medians of 70 and 250, respectively. Furthermore, 23.5% of adults in the county report poor or fair health, which is higher than the national average of 17%. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Howell 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.

Ozarks Healthcare

ER
2/5
(417) 256-9111
1100 Kentucky Ave, West Plains, MO 65775
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

Mercy St Francis Hospital

ER
Not rated by CMS
(417) 934-7000
100 West Highway 60, Po Box 82, Mountain View, MO 65548
Critical Access HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

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 Howell County, MO?
Howell County has a health score of 23/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #96 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 Howell County?
Life expectancy in Howell County is 72.6 years. The Missouri state average is 74.3 years, making Howell County below the state average.
How does Howell County health compare to the Missouri average?
Howell County's health score of 23/100 is below the Missouri average of 38/100. Life expectancy is 72.6 years vs. the state average of 74.3 years. The uninsured rate is 13.0% vs. 12.5% statewide.
What health factors affect Howell County?
Key health factors for Howell County include: life expectancy (72.6 years), uninsured rate (13.0%), and primary care physician access (88:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 260:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Howell County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 23/100 ("Below Average"), Howell County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Missouri. Residents have a life expectancy of 72.6 years. 13.0% 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 Howell County?
Howell County's health score of 23/100 is below the Missouri average of 38/100. The uninsured rate of 13.0% 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.