Within Arkansas, Barling is healthier than 64% of graded towns
Barling beats Arkansas on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Barling. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Barling
Barling looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 64% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 29% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Barling is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Barling is healthier than 29%. Against the 7,231 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 56%. Health Grade ↓
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 Barling’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Barling’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Barling is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns, #45 of 123 in Arkansas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 63% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). Barling’s median household income is $54,387; among the 7,231 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 56%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Barling adults…
On every condition, Barling is about the same as Arkansas. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Barling
No hospital or community health center in Barling 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 Barling; ≈ 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.
3.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Barling adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Barling adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
4 in 10 Barling 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.
9.5% of Barling adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Barling and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barling | C | 34.4% | 12.3% | 15.7% | CDC place |
| Fort Smith | D | 37% | 13.8% | 17.2% | CDC place |
| Central City | — | — | — | — |
Central City: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Barling adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Barling
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Barling is better than Arkansas on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Barling’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Barling | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.5–26.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%13.9–17.9 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.6–21.1 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%29–40.3 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.7–14 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%36.2–43.7 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%36.4–44.2 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.3%25.3–31.3 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.7–9.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 7.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%7.1–9.7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.3%13.4–19.6 | 18.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.7%13–18.3 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 32.1%27.5–36.8 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.4–16.6 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%32.5–43.5 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%9.7–14.4 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.7%74.1–81 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.9%50.3–57.5 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.5–86.8 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.3–79.6 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%60.9–70.5 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.5%67.3–81.1 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%21.9–28.8 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.3%31.3–41.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.5%22.7–30.3 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.4%13.4–19.4 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.6%10.5–14.7 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.6–10.3 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%7.6–10.2 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%7.6–11.5 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37%32.7–41.4 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.7%14.3–19 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%15.7–20.4 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.8–10 | 8.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 6.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.7 | 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 Barling
Is Barling a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Barling is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #45 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 56%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Barling?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29% and 40.3%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Barling?
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith in Fort Smith, 4.4 miles in a straight line from Barling’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Barling have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–14.4%), 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 Barling 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 Barling.
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.