Photo: User:Rmcclen. Original uploader was Rmcclen at en.wikipedia · Public domainWithin Arkansas, Benton is healthier than 75% of graded towns
Benton beats Arkansas on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Benton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benton
Benton looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 75% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 43% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Benton
Benton runs below Arkansas on four chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (10.7% vs 13.3%), stroke (3.3% vs 4%) and heart disease (6.5% vs 7.7%). Conditions ↓
Benton has a community health center but no hospital
Arcare is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Saline Memorial Hospital, 6.4 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Benton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Benton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns, #31 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 71% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 26%).
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). Benton’s median household income is $72,876; among the 10,717 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$91K), it’s healthier than 49%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Benton adults…
Benton runs below AR on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Benton
1 community health center in Benton, 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 Benton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arkansas
Share of adults, with the Arkansas figure marked.
2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Benton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Benton adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Benton 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 Benton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Benton and the towns around it
Benton’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Benton adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Benton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Benton is better than Arkansas on 10 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Benton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Benton | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%19.2–24 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.8–16 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.4–20.5 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35%29.8–40.4 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 38.2%34.8–41.7 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.8%33.4–40.3 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.3%23.6–29 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–8.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.3%3.1–3.6 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12.2–17.7 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%13.2–17.3 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.3%25.6–33.2 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%13.8–19.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.7%32.3–43.3 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%8.2–11.1 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%75.2–81.4 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59%55.5–62.6 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83.5–87.1 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.4%72.7–78 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.8%57.8–67.5 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.4%68–81.8 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.9%22.7–29.4 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.9%29.3–38.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%21.9–29.1 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.4%13.3–17.7 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.5%10.8–14.4 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%8.1–10.9 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%31.5–39 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%13.4–16.8 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%15.2–18.9 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.7–5.5 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8–9.9 | 10% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 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 Benton
Is Benton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #31 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 49%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Benton?
CDC estimates 35% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 40.4%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Benton?
Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton, 6.4 miles in a straight line from Benton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Benton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–11.1%), 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 Benton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Benton.
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.