Health · Carthage
Carthage, MO health
Carthage differs from Missouri on 18 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more uninsured adults (18.5% vs 8.7%) and more older adults who have lost all their teeth (32.5% vs 15.8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for CarthageTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D−
Carthage’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Carthage is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressDObesityC-DiabetesDSmokingD-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 5%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 13%
Towns with similar incomes, $38K–$64K (5,763)Healthier than 9%
About what its income would suggest. Carthage does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Carthage 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 Carthage 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. Carthage 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 Carthage 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
42.5% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
39.5% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
76.1% had a checkup
0 better3 close4 worse
Mind & connection
33.9% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
24.4% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
44.5% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Carthage adults…
39 of every 100 Carthage adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 34.8–43.1%
Bars show Carthage; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Carthage, betterCarthage, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
39.5% Carthage
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
41.7% Carthage
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.5% Carthage
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
20.9% Carthage
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Carthage 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 5
working-age adults has no health insurance
Carthage 18.5% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Carthage adults are doing
1 in 3Carthage adults feel lonely
33.9% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Carthage adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.4% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Carthage adults lack social or emotional support
21.9% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Carthage adults are in frequent mental distress
20% · 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 4
Carthage adults worry about having enough food
24.4% · MO 13.7% · worse
1 in 5
Carthage adults worry about keeping their housing
19.2% · MO 12.1% · worse
1 in 7
Carthage adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
13.9% · MO 9% · worse
1 in 7
Carthage adults lack reliable transportation
13.5% · MO 8.4% · worse
21.1% of Carthage adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
44.5%
of Carthage adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs20.9%
Thinking or memory22.8%
Hearing10.3%
Errands alone13.1%
Vision8.6%
Dressing or bathing6%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Carthage
1 community health center in Carthage, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERMercy Hospital CarthageCarthage · 3.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careOzark Tri-County Health Care ConsortiumCarthage · 1.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.8 mi
Ozark Tri-County Health Care Consortium
7 sites · nearest in Carthage
Access Family Care Carthage ClinicCarthage · 1.8 mi
Lafayette HouseJoplin · 12.2 mi
Access Family Care JoplinJoplin · 12.3 mi
Access Family Care Neosho MedicalNeosho · 19 mi
Neosho Dental ClinicNeosho · 21.1 mi
Access Family Care - LamarLamar · 24.2 mi
Access Family Care Lamar DentalLamar · 24.3 mi
24.9 mi
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas/Baxter Springs
Baxter Springs · community health center
Nothing matches.
! Primary careCarthage's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Jasper County · need score 17 of 25
! Dental careCarthage's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Jasper County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthCarthage's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Joplin MHCA #9 · 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 Carthage. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Carthage
| Measure | Carthage | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.9% | 34.8–43.1% | 36.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.7% | 33.4–42.1% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 42.5% | 34.5–50.4% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 29.9% | 26.7–33.1% | 28.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 25.4% | 21.8–29.2% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 32.5% | 27.9–37.1% | 15.8% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.9% | 7.2–8.8% | 8.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1% | 13.2–17.1% | 12.1% | worse |
| COPD | 11% | 9.5–12.5% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.3% | 7.4–9.2% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.5% | 4–5% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.9% | 18–24% | 16% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.5% | 11.8–17.6% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 39.5% | 34.3–44.8% | 28.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.7% | 35.3–48.5% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 76.1% | 72.4–79.9% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 47.6% | 43.9–51.2% | 60.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 79.5% | 77.2–81.9% | 84.5% | worse |
| Colon screening | 56.7% | 51.2–62% | 64% | worse |
| Mammogram | 68.5% | 59.7–76.4% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 75.6% | 72.8–78.2% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 18.5% | 15.8–21.3% | 8.7% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.9% | 28.8–39.2% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 21.9% | 18.5–25.5% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 20% | 17.7–22.3% | 17.5% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 29.9% | 26.4–33.4% | 20.5% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.2% | 16.1–20.3% | 14.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 24.4% | 21.2–28% | 13.7% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 19.2% | 16.7–22% | 12.1% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 13.9% | 12.1–15.7% | 9% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 13.5% | 11.9–15.3% | 8.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 21.1% | 18.3–24.2% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.5% | 39.7–49.2% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 20.9% | 18.4–23.4% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 22.8% | 20.3–25.4% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6% | 5.3–6.7% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 13.1% | 11.5–14.6% | 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 Carthage door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call Carthage better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Carthage 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.