Health · Ellington
Ellington, MO health
Ellington differs from Missouri on 13 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (11.8% vs 8%) and more smokers (21.8% vs 16%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for EllingtonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Ellington’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Ellington is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, and than 49% of towns with similar incomes.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressC-ObesityCDiabetesD-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 8%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 21%
Towns with similar incomes, $27K–$45K (1,388)Healthier than 49%
Better than its income would suggest. Ellington 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, Ellington 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 Ellington 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. Ellington 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 Ellington 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
40.7% have obesity
0 better8 close4 worse
Habits
36.1% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
77.5% had a checkup
0 better4 close3 worse
Mind & connection
32.4% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
18.1% face food insecurity
0 better3 close2 worse
Disability
43.9% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Ellington adults…
39 of every 100 Ellington adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 34.6–43.8%
Bars show Ellington; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Ellington, betterEllington, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
36.1% Ellington
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
38.8% Ellington
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.3% Ellington
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
21.8% Ellington
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Ellington 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 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Ellington 11% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Ellington adults are doing
1 in 3Ellington adults feel lonely
32.4% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Ellington adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.2% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Ellington adults lack social or emotional support
20.8% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Ellington adults are in frequent mental distress
20% · 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
Ellington adults worry about having enough food
18.1% · MO 13.7% · worse
1 in 7
Ellington adults worry about keeping their housing
13.8% · MO 12.1% · about the same
1 in 10
Ellington adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10.4% · MO 9% · about the same
1 in 10
Ellington adults lack reliable transportation
10.3% · MO 8.4% · worse
15.8% of Ellington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
43.9%
of Ellington adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs21%
Thinking or memory21.7%
Hearing10.6%
Errands alone12.7%
Vision7%
Dressing or bathing5.5%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Ellington
1 community health center in Ellington, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERIron County Medical CenterPilot Knob · 32.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careBig Springs Medical AssociationEllington · 0.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Big Springs Medical Association
8 sites · nearest in Ellington
Missouri Highlands Health CareEllington · 0.4 mi
Missouri Highlands Dental - EllingtonEllington · 0.4 mi
Missouri Highlands Health Care - EllingtonEllington · 0.9 mi
Missouri Highlands Health Care - PiedmontPiedmont · 16.6 mi
Missouri Highlands Dental - PiedmontPiedmont · 16.6 mi
Missouri Highlands Health Care - Van BurenVan Buren · 16.7 mi
Missouri Highlands Health Care - AnnapolisAnnapolis · 17.4 mi
Missouri Highlands Health Care - EminenceEminence · 22.2 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careEllington's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Carter/Reynolds/Shannon Counties · need score 17 of 25
! Dental careEllington's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Carter/Reynolds/Shannon Counties · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthEllington's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, MHCA 19 · need score 19 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 Ellington. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Ellington
| Measure | Ellington | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 39.2% | 34.6–43.8% | 36.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 39.3% | 34.7–43.9% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 40.7% | 32.2–50% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 33.3% | 29.6–37% | 28.8% | worse |
| Depression | 27.2% | 23.3–31.5% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 17.3% | 13.9–20.7% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11.5% | 10.2–13.1% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.3% | 8.4–10.4% | 8.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8% | 11.8–15.9% | 12.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 11.8% | 9.9–13.9% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.6% | 7.5–9.8% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.6% | 4–5.3% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.8% | 18.1–26% | 16% | worse |
| Binge drink | 15.3% | 12.4–18.5% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 36.1% | 30–42.3% | 28.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8% | 31.5–46.1% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.5% | 73.5–81.1% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 52.2% | 48.2–56% | 60.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 81.6% | 78.7–84.4% | 84.5% | worse |
| Colon screening | 57.9% | 52.4–62.9% | 64% | worse |
| Mammogram | 70% | 61–77.8% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.1% | 75.1–80.7% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 11% | 8.3–14.3% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.4% | 26.9–38.2% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.8% | 17.1–24.9% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 20% | 17.4–22.5% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 26.9% | 22.7–31.5% | 20.5% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.1% | 15.6–20.8% | 14.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 18.1% | 14.3–22.5% | 13.7% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 13.8% | 11.2–16.8% | 12.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 10.4% | 8.6–12.5% | 9% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 10.3% | 8.5–12.3% | 8.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 15.8% | 12.3–19.7% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.9% | 38–49.5% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 21% | 17.8–24.2% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 21.7% | 18.6–25% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 10.6% | 9.3–12% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 7% | 5.9–8.1% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.5% | 4.6–6.4% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 12.7% | 10.7–14.7% | 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 Ellington door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call Ellington better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Ellington 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.