Howard, KS health
Howard differs from Kansas on 18 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (12.3% vs 16.3%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (84.4% vs 77.6%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (24.5% vs 11.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for HowardNot graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 516 people are less certain, so we show Howard's figures without a grade.
How Howard compares with Kansas
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Howard adults…
Bars show Howard; the black tick is Kansas. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
KS 25.6%
KS 34.3%
KS 16.3%
KS 14%
Keeping up with care
Share of Howard adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
How Howard adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.7% of Howard adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Living with a disability
of Howard adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: Kansas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Howard
No hospital or community health center in Howard itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Howard. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Howard
| Measure | Howard | Margin | Kansas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 45.9% | 41.2–50.6% | 34.4% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 43.5% | 38.7–48.2% | 36.7% | worse |
| Obesity | 40.7% | 32.6–49.3% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 38.4% | 34.4–42.6% | 25.5% | worse |
| Depression | 21.2% | 17.9–24.7% | 20.8% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 24.5% | 20.7–28.7% | 11.3% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 12.4% | 11.1–13.8% | 8.1% | worse |
| Diabetes | 16.5% | 14–19.1% | 11.4% | worse |
| COPD | 11.8% | 9.6–14.2% | 6.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 10.9% | 9.5–12.4% | 6.4% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.4% | 4.6–6.3% | 3.2% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.5% | 14.9–22.3% | 14% | worse |
| Binge drink | 12.3% | 10.1–14.8% | 16.3% | better |
| Get no exercise | 36.3% | 30–42.7% | 25.6% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.1% | 30–44.3% | 34.3% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 81.3% | 78–84.3% | 76.6% | better |
| Dentist visit | 58.1% | 54.1–62% | 64.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 88.1% | 86.2–89.8% | 84.1% | better |
| Colon screening | 60.8% | 55.1–66.4% | 63.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 68.5% | 59.7–76.4% | 74.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 84.4% | 81.9–86.7% | 77.6% | better |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 6.9–11.5% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 29.1% | 24.2–34.5% | 30.9% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.1% | 16.7–23.8% | 21.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.9% | 13.7–18% | 16% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 24.2% | 20.2–28.5% | 18% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17% | 14.4–19.5% | 12.3% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.9% | 11–17.2% | 13% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 10.5% | 8.7–12.6% | 11.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.6% | 7.3–10.1% | 8.2% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.3% | 6.2–8.6% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 9.7% | 7.5–12.1% | 7.4% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.4% | 34.7–45.8% | 30.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 22.3% | 18.6–26.1% | 13.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.5% | 13–18% | 14.4% | |
| Hearing | 12.2% | 10.7–13.9% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 6.4% | 5.4–7.6% | 4.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.4% | 4.5–6.4% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 10.5% | 8.7–12.4% | 7.7% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kansas figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.