Health · Salem
Salem, MO health
Salem differs from Missouri on 6 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (10.1% vs 8%) and more adults with heart disease (8.5% vs 6.8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 64670, 64636TownTapestry Health GradeNew
D−
Salem’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns.
D-Self-rated healthD-Physical distressDMental distressD-ObesityDDiabetesD-SmokingD-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 2%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 6%
Towns with similar incomes, $30K–$50K (2,357)Healthier than 8%
About what its income would suggest. Salem does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Salem could be anywhere from D− to D.
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 Salem 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. Salem’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. 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 Salem 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
37.9% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
31.9% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.1% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
31% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
13.8% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
39.9% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
40 of every 100 Salem adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 35.8–43.8%
Bars show Salem; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Salem, betterSalem, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
31.9% Salem
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
37.5% Salem
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.9% Salem
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18.8% Salem
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem 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 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Salem 9.5% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Salem adults are doing
1 in 3Salem adults feel lonely
31% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Salem adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.8% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Salem adults lack social or emotional support
19.4% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 6Salem adults are in frequent mental distress
17.6% · 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 7
Salem adults worry about having enough food
13.8% · MO 13.7% · about the same
1 in 9
Salem adults worry about keeping their housing
11.3% · MO 12.1% · about the same
1 in 12
Salem adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.4% · MO 9% · about the same
1 in 12
Salem adults lack reliable transportation
8.2% · MO 8.4% · about the same
11.1% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
39.9%
of Salem adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs18.3%
Thinking or memory18.5%
Hearing10.4%
Errands alone10.1%
Vision5.6%
Dressing or bathing4.5%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Around Salem
Salem and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Salem.
37.9%40.9%· darker is worse for health
Obesity
#1 of 16towns on this map, healthiest first
Salem37.9%
Benton38.2%
Cypress38.5%
Grand River38.5%
Washington39.1%
Care nearby
Harrison County Community HospitalBethany · 11.8 mi · ★★★★★ · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Mosaic Medical Center AlbanyAlbany · 18.6 mi · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Wright Memorial HospitalTrenton · 24.3 mi · ★★★★★ · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Hedrick Medical CenterChillicothe · 32.1 mi · ★★★★★ · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Hamilton Medical ClinicHamilton · 25 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
Princeton OfficePrinceton · 31.7 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
! Primary careSalem's county is a federal shortage area.Daviess County · need score 12 of 25
! Dental careSalem's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Caldwell and Daviess Counties · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthSalem's county is a federal shortage area.MHCA 13 - Chillicothe Service Area · need score 19 of 25
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Salem. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Salem
| Measure | Salem | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 39.8% | 35.8–43.8% | 36.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 41.2% | 36.9–45.2% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37.9% | 30.7–45.3% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 32.3% | 29–35.6% | 28.8% | worse |
| Depression | 24.8% | 21.4–28.3% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 17.1% | 14.4–19.9% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.5% | 9.4–11.8% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.9% | 9–10.9% | 8.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 13.2% | 11.5–15.1% | 12.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 10.1% | 8.6–11.7% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8% | 15.8–21.9% | 16% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.9% | 13.2–18.6% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 31.9% | 26.8–36.7% | 28.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5% | 31.6–43.6% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.1% | 74.8–81.1% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 57% | 53.4–60.3% | 60.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83.8% | 81.8–85.9% | 84.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 64.8% | 60.1–69% | 64% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 72.5% | 65–78.9% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.3% | 75.7–80.7% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 7.5–11.8% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31% | 26.6–35.9% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 19.4% | 16.4–22.7% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.6% | 15.6–19.7% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 23.1% | 19.8–26.4% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 16.1% | 14.1–18.2% | 14.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.8% | 11.1–16.8% | 13.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 11.3% | 9.5–13.5% | 12.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.4% | 7.1–9.8% | 9% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.2% | 7–9.6% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11.1% | 9–13.6% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.9% | 35.1–44.6% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18.3% | 15.8–21% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.5% | 16–21% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 10.4% | 9.3–11.7% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.5% | 3.9–5.2% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 10.1% | 8.8–11.5% | 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 Salem door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call Salem better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Salem by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Salem by how much of its land each one covers.
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.