Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Des Arc is healthier than 58%
Des Arc trails Arkansas on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Des Arc. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Des Arc
Des Arc is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Des Arc is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Des Arc
48.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.7% across Arkansas. Among those 65 and older, 25.3% have lost all their teeth (Arkansas 18.6%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Des Arc
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11%), vs 8.6% across Arkansas. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 4% across Arkansas. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.3%, vs 7.7% across Arkansas. In all, Des Arc runs above Arkansas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Des Arc is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Des Arc is healthier than 6%. Against the 660 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 58%. 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 Des Arc’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Des Arc’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Des Arc is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 15% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Des Arc’s median household income is $30,921; among the 660 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Des Arc adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Out of every 100 Des Arc adults…
Des Arc runs above AR on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Des Arc is an older town: 26% 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 Des Arc as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Des Arc
1 community health center in Des Arc, 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 Des Arc; ≈ 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.
How Des Arc adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Des Arc 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.
14.2% of Des Arc adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Des Arc and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Arc | D | 41.5% | 15% | 19% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Des Arc adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Des Arc
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Des Arc is better than Arkansas on 0 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Des Arc’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Des Arc | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.2%24.4–32.4 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.7–20.5 | 15.6% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.5–22.2 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.5%33.6–49.4 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15%12.9–17.1 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 45.7%41.3–49.8 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%36–44.6 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.8%29.3–36.2 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.1–10.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.2–10.6 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11%9.3–12.8 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.3%21.1–30.2 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19%16–22.3 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.9%31.4–42.7 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.3–16.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.2%34.4–49.2 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.7%9.1–14.6 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.6%76–82.9 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.7%44.8–52.9 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%81.5–86.1 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.4–81.4 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.4%56.9–67.9 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 66.6%57.8–75.4 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%21.5–29 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%30–40.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.1%23.9–32.4 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.9%17.4–24.7 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%12.6–17.4 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.2–12.4 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.2%11.7–17.2 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.2%38.1–48.5 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.1%18.2–24.3 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.7%18–23.5 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.4 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.1%10.4–13.9 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.8–6.4 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Des Arc
Is Des Arc a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Des Arc is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Des Arc?
CDC estimates 41.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.6% and 49.4%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Des Arc?
White County Medical Center in Searcy, 21.7 miles in a straight line from Des Arc’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Des Arc have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–14.6%), 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 Des Arc more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Des Arc.
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.