Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Austin is healthier than 50%
Austin differs from Arkansas on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Austin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Austin
Binge drinking is the habit Austin doesn’t win on
19.8% of adults binge drink, vs 14.6% across Arkansas, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Austin
Austin runs below Arkansas on eight chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (3.6% vs 7.7%), stroke (1.9% vs 4%) and diabetes (6.7% vs 13.3%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%). Conditions ↓
Austin looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 94% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 74% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Austin’s lead shrinks
Austin is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, but 50% of the 6,639 towns with similar household incomes ($85K–$142K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Austin is an active town
Only 23.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 32.1% across Arkansas. Habits ↓
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 Austin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Austin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Austin is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, #8 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Austin’s median household income is $113,764; among the 6,639 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($85K–$142K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Few Arkansas towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Austin is healthier than 94% of graded towns, against 74% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arkansas
Share of adults, with the Arkansas figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Austin adults…
Austin runs below AR on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Austin residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Austin
No hospital or community health center in Austin itself. These are the nearest.
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 Austin; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Austin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Austin adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Austin 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.6% of Austin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Austin and the towns around it
Austin has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Austin adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Austin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Austin is better than Arkansas on 19 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Austin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Austin | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.6%13.1–18 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.7–12.8 | 15.6% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.6–21.5 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.6%26.2–39.4 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.7%5.7–7.7 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.4%24.8–32.1 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.8%28–35.8 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19%16.5–21.6 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.3 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.6%5–6.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.6%3.2–4 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.9%1.7–2.1 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.4%8.5–12.5 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%10.3–15.3 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 23.3%19.2–27.7 | 32.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.8%16.4–23.6 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.2%31.3–43.6 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%6.5–10 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%71–79 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61%57.4–64.4 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%81.6–86.5 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.9%62.4–69.5 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.8%53–62.6 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.2%66.8–80.8 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.9%23.2–30.8 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.6%30.7–40.7 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%21.6–29.2 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.3%9.1–13.7 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.6%8.7–12.6 | 14.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%5.9–8.2 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.6%5.6–7.8 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.6%4.4–7 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.4%24.2–32.6 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.6%7.3–10 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.2%13.9–18.5 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.8–3.6 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.7–7.6 | 10% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%2–2.6 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Austin
Is Austin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Austin is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #8 of 123 in Arkansas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Austin?
CDC estimates 32.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.2% and 39.4%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Austin?
Unity Health - Jacksonville in Jacksonville, 12.0 miles in a straight line from Austin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Austin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–10%), 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 Austin more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Austin.
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.