Dawson County Health Data
Dawson County, Nebraska
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
48/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
77.4 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.6%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
77.4 yr
State avg 77.5 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.6%
State avg 8.1%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
54
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
166
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
20.2%
State avg 15.6%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
16.7
per 100K residentsCDC: 54.4 per 100K
Dentists
12.5
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
4.2
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 Dawson County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Dawson | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 41.4% | 39.8% | 37.6% | 1.6 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 11.9% | 9.6% | 11.2% | 2.3 pts worse than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 31.8% | 30.3% | 33.5% | 1.5 pts worse than state |
| Depression | 15.8% | 18.4% | 24.1% | 2.6 pts better than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Dawson | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 15.3% | 14.9% | 16.3% | near state average |
| Binge Drinking | 19.5% | 22.1% | 17.8% | 2.6 pts better than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 32.0% | 26.3% | 27.0% | 5.7 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Dawson | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 71.3% | 72.9% | 74.9% | 1.6 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 56.3% | 62.0% | 57.3% | 5.7 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 74.8% | 73.0% | 73.3% | 1.8 pts better than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Dawson | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 14.4% | 15.3% | 18.6% | 0.9 pts better than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 33.1% | 32.3% | 37.3% | 0.8 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Dawson 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
Poor and Fair Health Reporting Frequent in Dawson County
Health data brief for Dawson County, Nebraska.
In Dawson County, 20.2% of residents report poor or fair health, a rate higher than the national average of 17%. The uninsured rate in the county is 12.6%, which is higher than the Nebraska state average of 8.1% and the national average of 10%. Life expectancy is 77.4 years, which is nearly equal to the state average of 77.5 years and the national average of 77 years. For medical provider access, the county has 54 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, lower than the national median of 70 per 100,000. Mental health care shows 166 providers per 100,000 residents, which is also lower than the national median of 250 per 100,000. These data points provide a statistical view of local health conditions based on federal reports. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Dawson County, Nebraska
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
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Gothenburg Health
ERCozad Community Hospital
ERLexington Regional Health Center
EReHealth Insurance
Compare health insurance plans from top carriers for Dawson County residents.
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Licensed agents for health, Medicare, and supplemental insurance in Nebraska.
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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.