Little Rock to Cantonment Gibson Rd-Fourth Street Segment · Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Arkansas, Atkins is healthier than 57% of graded towns
Atkins differs from Arkansas on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Atkins. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Atkins
Atkins looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 57% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 22% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Cancer runs high in Atkins
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.9%), vs 8.2% across Arkansas. Conditions ↓
Fewer Atkins adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Arkansas. 1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 5 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Arkansas figure falls outside Atkins’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Atkins’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Atkins is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns, #53 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 46% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 7%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Atkins’ median household income is $61,908; among the 9,378 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 30%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Atkins adults…
Atkins runs above AR on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.4% of Atkins adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Care in and near Atkins
1 community health center in Atkins, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Atkins; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Arkansas
Share of adults, with the Arkansas figure marked.
1.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Atkins adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Atkins adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Atkins adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Atkins and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atkins | C− | 43.2% | 12.3% | 15.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Atkins adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Atkins
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Atkins is better than Arkansas on 4 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Atkins’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Atkins | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%19.7–26.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.7–17.8 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.5–21 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.2%36.4–50.4 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.5–14.2 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%35.9–43.9 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%35.4–43.8 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.5%29.2–36 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.5–12.3 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–11 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7–9 | 7.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.1%7.7–10.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4%3.5–4.5 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.7%14.7–20.9 | 18.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.7%12.8–18.5 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.9%27.1–37.1 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.2–17.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.6%31.3–43.7 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%7.4–12.2 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%74.1–81.2 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.4%45.3–53.2 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.3–87.6 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.3–80.7 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.7%55.9–66.8 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73%64.9–80 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.3–28.7 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%27–36.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%21.2–29.2 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.5%11.5–17.7 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.2–13.5 | 14.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.7–9.3 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%6.7–9.3 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.4%6.6–10.7 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.7%34.2–43.7 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.7%15.2–20.5 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.6–20.7 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 8.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 6.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.4–11.2 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.8 | 4.6% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Arkansas figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Atkins
Is Atkins a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Atkins is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #53 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 30%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Atkins?
CDC estimates 43.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.4% and 50.4%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Atkins?
St. Marys Regional Medical Center in Russellville, 11.8 miles in a straight line from Atkins’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Atkins have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–12.2%), against 11.3% across Arkansas.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Atkins more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Atkins.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Arkansas figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.