Health · Buffalo
Buffalo, MO health
Buffalo differs from Missouri on 13 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (79.9% vs 77.2%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (26.4% vs 15.8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BuffaloTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Buffalo’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Buffalo is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, and than 58% of towns with similar incomes.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressCMental distressC+ObesityC-DiabetesDSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 13%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 32%
Towns with similar incomes, $30K–$50K (2,257)Healthier than 58%
Better than its income would suggest. Buffalo is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Buffalo could be anywhere from D− to B−.
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 Buffalo 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. Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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
38.1% have obesity
0 better5 close7 worse
Habits
34.9% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
78.7% had a checkup
1 better5 close1 worse
Mind & connection
30.8% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
16.8% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
43.7% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Buffalo adults…
41 of every 100 Buffalo adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 36.2–45.5%
Bars show Buffalo; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Buffalo, betterBuffalo, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
34.9% Buffalo
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
39.6% Buffalo
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.4% Buffalo
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
19.8% Buffalo
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo 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 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Buffalo 10.4% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Buffalo adults are doing
1 in 3Buffalo adults feel lonely
30.8% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Buffalo adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.8% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Buffalo adults lack social or emotional support
19.3% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Buffalo adults are in frequent mental distress
18.6% · Missouri 17.5% · too close to call
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 6
Buffalo adults worry about having enough food
16.8% · MO 13.7% · about the same
1 in 8
Buffalo adults worry about keeping their housing
12.8% · MO 12.1% · about the same
1 in 10
Buffalo adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.9% · MO 9% · about the same
1 in 10
Buffalo adults lack reliable transportation
9.8% · MO 8.4% · about the same
14.5% of Buffalo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
43.7%
of Buffalo adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs21.3%
Thinking or memory20.3%
Hearing11.7%
Errands alone12.2%
Vision7%
Dressing or bathing5.3%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Buffalo
1 community health center in Buffalo, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERCitizens Memorial HospitalBolivar · 17.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careAdvocates for A Healthy CommunityBuffalo · 0.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Advocates for A Healthy Community
4 sites · nearest in Buffalo
Jordan Valley Community Health Center - BuffaloBuffalo · 0.4 mi
Jordan Valley Community Health Center - MarshfieldMarshfield · 22.7 mi
Jordan Valley Community Health Center - LebanonLebanon · 23.8 mi
Jordan Valley Community Health Center - Lebanon EvergreenLebanon · 24.1 mi
13.8 mi
Ozarks Resource Group
4 sites · nearest in Urbana
Ochc - Urbana Medical CenterUrbana · 13.8 mi
Ochc - Bolivar Dental ClinicBolivar · 17.3 mi
Ochc - Hermitage Dental ClinicHermitage · 23.7 mi
Ochc - Hermitage Medical CenterHermitage · 23.7 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careBuffalo's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Dallas/Polk Counties · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careBuffalo's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Dallas County · need score 20 of 25
! Mental healthBuffalo's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Springfield · need score 16 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 Buffalo. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Buffalo
| Measure | Buffalo | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.8% | 36.2–45.5% | 36.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 39.4% | 34.8–44.2% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 38.1% | 29.8–47% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 34.2% | 30.5–38.2% | 28.8% | worse |
| Depression | 25.8% | 21.9–30% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 26.4% | 22–31.2% | 15.8% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.1% | 9.7–12.7% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.5% | 9.3–11.7% | 8.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 14.5% | 12.4–16.9% | 12.1% | worse |
| COPD | 11.6% | 9.6–14% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.4% | 8.1–10.9% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.9% | 4.2–5.8% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.8% | 16.1–23.6% | 16% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.4% | 11.8–17.4% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 34.9% | 29–41.3% | 28.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6% | 32.5–47% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.7% | 75.1–82.3% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 50.5% | 46.5–54.4% | 60.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83% | 80.5–85.6% | 84.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 63.6% | 58.4–68.7% | 64% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 67.4% | 58.2–75.7% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.9% | 77.3–82.4% | 77.2% | better |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 8–13.3% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 30.8% | 25.8–36.6% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 19.3% | 16–23.2% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.6% | 16.2–21.1% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 25.8% | 21.7–30.5% | 20.5% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.6% | 15.1–20.4% | 14.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 16.8% | 13.5–20.9% | 13.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 12.8% | 10.5–15.6% | 12.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9.9% | 8.3–11.8% | 9% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 9.8% | 8.3–11.6% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 14.5% | 11.5–18.1% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.7% | 38.1–49.6% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 21.3% | 18.1–25.1% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 20.3% | 17.2–23.5% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 11.7% | 10.2–13.4% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 7% | 5.9–8.3% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.3% | 4.5–6.4% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 12.2% | 10.2–14.5% | 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 Buffalo door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call Buffalo better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Buffalo 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.