Health · Bernie
Bernie, MO health
Bernie differs from Missouri on 19 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (13% vs 8%) and more adults facing food insecurity (20.5% vs 13.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BernieTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Bernie’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Bernie is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthD-Physical distressDMental distressCObesityDDiabetesD-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 6%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 17%
Towns with similar incomes, $36K–$61K (4,778)Healthier than 17%
About what its income would suggest. Bernie does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Bernie could be anywhere from D− to C.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Missouri ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Bernie with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Bernie uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Bernie compares with Missouri
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
38.9% have obesity
0 better5 close7 worse
Habits
37.9% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
77.1% had a checkup
0 better4 close3 worse
Mind & connection
33.8% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
20.5% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
46.9% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Bernie adults…
42 of every 100 Bernie adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · worse · margin 37.5–45.6%
Bars show Bernie; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Bernie, betterBernie, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
37.9% Bernie
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
41.2% Bernie
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.2% Bernie
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
23.7% Bernie
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Bernie adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Yearly checkup
MO 78%Dentist visit
MO 60%Cholesterol check
MO 85%Colon screening
MO 64%Mammogram
MO 75%Taking BP meds
MO 77%1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Bernie 12.3% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Bernie adults are doing
1 in 3Bernie adults feel lonely
33.8% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Bernie adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.2% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Bernie adults lack social or emotional support
20.8% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Bernie adults are in frequent mental distress
20.1% · Missouri 17.5% · worse
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 5
Bernie adults worry about having enough food
20.5% · MO 13.7% · worse
1 in 7
Bernie adults worry about keeping their housing
14.9% · MO 12.1% · worse
1 in 9
Bernie adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
11.4% · MO 9% · worse
1 in 9
Bernie adults lack reliable transportation
11.2% · MO 8.4% · worse
18.2% of Bernie adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
46.9%
of Bernie adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs23.1%
Thinking or memory22.5%
Hearing11.4%
Errands alone13.6%
Vision7.7%
Dressing or bathing6.1%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Bernie
1 community health center in Bernie, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERMercy Hospital StoddardDexter · 9.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSoutheast Missouri Health NetworkBernie · 0.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.8 mi
Southeast Missouri Health Network
4 sites · nearest in Bernie
Bernie Medical and Dental CenterBernie · 0.8 mi
New Madrid Medical CenterNew Madrid · 24.4 mi
Sikeston Dental CenterSikeston · 25.3 mi
Sikeston Medical ClinicSikeston · 25.4 mi
25.7 mi
Big Springs Medical Association
4 sites · nearest in Poplar Bluff
Missouri Highlands Dental - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff · 25.7 mi
Missouri Highlands Health Care - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff · 26.4 mi
Missouri Highlands Health Care Family Care ClinicPoplar Bluff · 26.5 mi
Missouri Highlands Ob/Gyn & Pediatric ClinicPoplar Bluff · 26.8 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careBernie's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Stoddard County · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careBernie's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Stoddard County · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthBernie's county is a federal shortage area.Sikeston MHCA #20 · need score 18 of 25
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 Bernie. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Bernie
| Measure | Bernie | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 41.5% | 37.5–45.6% | 36.5% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 39.6% | 35.6–43.8% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 38.9% | 32.6–45.9% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 36% | 32.7–39.6% | 28.8% | worse |
| Depression | 27.2% | 23.6–31.2% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 22.3% | 18.6–26.1% | 15.8% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.5% | 10.2–13.1% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.4% | 8.5–10.5% | 8.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 15.4% | 13.3–17.6% | 12.1% | worse |
| COPD | 13% | 10.9–15.3% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.5% | 8.3–10.8% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.1% | 4.4–5.8% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.7% | 19.7–27.9% | 16% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.2% | 11.7–16.9% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 37.9% | 32.4–43.7% | 28.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.2% | 35.2–47.4% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.1% | 73.3–80.4% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 43.3% | 39.7–47% | 60.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 81.6% | 78.8–84.3% | 84.5% | worse |
| Colon screening | 61% | 55.7–66.1% | 64% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 70.6% | 62.4–78.1% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.2% | 75.3–80.8% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 12.3% | 9.3–15.5% | 8.7% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.8% | 28.8–38.8% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.8% | 17.3–24.4% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 20.1% | 17.6–22.7% | 17.5% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 30% | 25.4–34.9% | 20.5% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 19% | 16.5–21.8% | 14.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 20.5% | 16.5–24.9% | 13.7% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 14.9% | 12.2–17.8% | 12.1% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 11.4% | 9.6–13.3% | 9% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 11.2% | 9.4–13.2% | 8.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 18.2% | 14.4–22.2% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.9% | 41.5–52.4% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 23.1% | 19.8–26.5% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 22.5% | 19.5–26% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 11.4% | 10–12.8% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 7.7% | 6.6–8.9% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.1% | 5.1–7.2% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 13.6% | 11.6–16% | 9.2% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Bernie door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call Bernie better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Bernie directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri 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.