Photo: Archedamian · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Cotter residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Cotter, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cotter. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cotter
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Cotter
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.1%), vs 8.6% across Arkansas. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (10.7%), vs 7.7% across Arkansas. Cancer is also above the state: 11.2%, vs 8.2% across Arkansas. In all, Cotter runs above Arkansas on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 40% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Cotter, and more people treating it
46.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Arkansas 41.4%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Cotter’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Cotter adults…
Cotter runs above AR on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Cotter is an older town: 40% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Cotter as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cotter adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Care in and near Cotter
No hospital or community health center in Cotter 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 Cotter; ≈ 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.
3.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Cotter adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Cotter 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.
11.4% of Cotter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Cotter and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cotter adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Cotter
Why doesn’t Cotter have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Cotter.
What hospital is closest to Cotter?
Baxter Health in Mountain Home, 8.2 miles in a straight line from Cotter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Cotter?
4 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Arcare - 149 in Mountain Home, 7.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cotter.
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. 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.