Health · St. James
St. James, MO health
On most measures St. James looks like Missouri as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more adults with heart disease (8.4% vs 6.8%) and more adults who have had a stroke (4.2% vs 3.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for St. JamesTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
St. James’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, St. James is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, and than 62% of towns with similar incomes.
CSelf-rated healthCPhysical distressC+Mental distressBObesityC+DiabetesCSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 32%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 61%
Towns with similar incomes, $40K–$67K (6,380)Healthier than 62%
Better than its income would suggest. St. James is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, St. James 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 St. James 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. St. James 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 St. James 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
34.8% have obesity
0 better8 close4 worse
Habits
30.9% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.2% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
31.9% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
13.1% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
40.5% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 St. James adults…
39 of every 100 St. James adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 34.6–42.8%
Bars show St. James; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
St. James, betterSt. James, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
30.9% St. James
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
39.1% St. James
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.7% St. James
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17% St. James
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of St. James 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
St. James 9.1% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How St. James adults are doing
1 in 3St. James adults feel lonely
31.9% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4St. James adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.7% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5St. James adults lack social or emotional support
19.8% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 6St. James adults are in frequent mental distress
17.7% · 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 8
St. James adults worry about having enough food
13.1% · MO 13.7% · about the same
1 in 9
St. James adults worry about keeping their housing
10.9% · MO 12.1% · about the same
1 in 12
St. James adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.1% · MO 9% · about the same
1 in 12
St. James adults lack reliable transportation
8.2% · MO 8.4% · about the same
10.4% of St. James adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
40.5%
of St. James adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs18%
Thinking or memory18.6%
Hearing10.6%
Errands alone10.1%
Vision5.6%
Dressing or bathing4.3%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near St. James
1 community health center in St. James, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERPhelps County Regional Medical CenterRolla · 10 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSouth Central Missouri Community Health CenterSaint James · 0.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.6 mi
South Central Missouri Community Health Center
7 sites · nearest in Saint James
Saint James Dental CenterSaint James · 0.6 mi
Four Rivers Community Health CenterRolla · 8.3 mi
Four Rivers Community Health CenterRolla · 9 mi
Pediatric Dentistry of the OzarksRolla · 9.2 mi
Four Rivers Community Health Center - Bishop AveRolla · 10.4 mi
Four Rivers Community Health Center - CubaCuba · 12.1 mi
Bourbon Dental ClinicBourbon · 22.5 mi
35.9 mi
General Leonard Wood Ach (Ft Leonard Wood)
Fort Leonard Wood · not rated
Nothing matches.
! Primary careSt. James's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Phelps County · need score 17 of 25
! Dental careSt. James's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Crawford and Phelps Counties · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthSt. James's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, MHCA 17A/B · need score 17 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 St. James. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for St. James
| Measure | St. James | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.6% | 34.6–42.8% | 36.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 38.3% | 34.1–42.8% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 34.8% | 27.7–42.2% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 32.7% | 29.3–36.2% | 28.8% | worse |
| Depression | 25.7% | 22.2–29.6% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 16.3% | 13.3–19.7% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10% | 9–11.1% | 8.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 12.7% | 10.9–14.7% | 12.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 9.4% | 7.9–11.2% | 8% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 8.4% | 7.3–9.6% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.2% | 3.7–4.9% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17% | 13.9–20.3% | 16% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.7% | 12.9–18.6% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 30.9% | 26–36.6% | 28.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.1% | 32.6–46.1% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.2% | 74.6–81.5% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 57.8% | 54–61.7% | 60.4% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 84.1% | 81.7–86.4% | 84.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 64.6% | 59.7–69.6% | 64% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 75.7% | 68.1–82.3% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.5% | 75.8–81% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 7.1–11.6% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.9% | 26.7–37.1% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 19.8% | 16.4–23.3% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.7% | 15.6–20% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.6% | 19.3–26.3% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.6% | 13.7–18% | 14.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.1% | 10.3–16.2% | 13.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 10.9% | 8.8–13.1% | 12.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.1% | 6.7–9.5% | 9% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.2% | 6.8–9.6% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 10.4% | 8–13.1% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5% | 35.7–45.8% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18% | 15.3–21% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.6% | 16.1–21.4% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 10.6% | 9.4–12% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 5.6% | 4.8–6.5% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.3% | 3.6–5% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 10.1% | 8.7–11.7% | 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 St. James door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call St. James better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes St. James 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.