Photo: Photolitherland Chris Litherland · CC BY 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Dover is healthier than 64%
Dover trails Arkansas on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dover. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dover
Dover is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dover is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Dover
50.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.7% across Arkansas. Among those 65 and older, 27% have lost all their teeth (Arkansas 18.6%). Checkups ↓
COPD runs high in Dover
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), vs 8.6% across Arkansas. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%), and COPD is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dover is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Dover is healthier than 8%. Against the 844 towns with similar household incomes ($24K–$40K), it’s healthier than 64%. 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 Dover’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Dover’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dover is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 33% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Dover’s median household income is $32,332; among the 844 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($24K–$40K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dover adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Out of every 100 Dover adults…
Dover runs above AR on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Dover is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Dover as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Dover
No hospital or community health center in Dover 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 Dover; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Dover adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Dover 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.
12.3% of Dover adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Dover and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | D | 45.3% | 13.2% | 18.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dover adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dover
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dover is better than Arkansas on 0 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Dover’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dover | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.9%23.1–30.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15–19.5 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18–23 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.3%38.3–52.3 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.4–15.2 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%36.1–44.1 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39%34.7–43 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.2%28.8–35.5 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8–9.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 7.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.5%9–12.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.9 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27%22.5–31.8 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.5%15.4–21.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 35.3%30.1–40.4 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.3–18 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38%31.7–44.2 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.5%9–14.7 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.5%72.7–80.1 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.1%46.1–53.8 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%80–85.4 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.6–79.3 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.4%52.6–63.8 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%62.2–78.6 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.1%22.3–29.9 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.2%28.2–38.2 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.4%22.4–30.4 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.1%15.2–23.2 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.9%11.5–16.5 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%8.7–12.1 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.6–12 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.3%9.7–15.3 | 11.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.2%37.1–47.2 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.8%17.1–22.8 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.8%17.9–23.8 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 8.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%5.9–7.8 | 6.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10–13.4 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.5–6 | 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 Dover
Is Dover a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dover is healthier than 8% 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 Dover?
CDC estimates 45.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.3% and 52.3%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dover?
St. Marys Regional Medical Center in Russellville, 7.7 miles in a straight line from Dover’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dover have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–14.7%), 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 Dover 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 Dover.
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.