Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Arkansas, Elkins is healthier than 93% of graded towns
Elkins differs from Arkansas on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elkins. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elkins
Elkins looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 93% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 67% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Elkins doesn’t win on
17.7% of adults binge drink, vs 14.6% across Arkansas, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Elkins
Elkins runs below Arkansas on six chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (8.6% vs 13.3%), stroke (2.6% vs 4%) and heart disease (5.1% vs 7.7%). Conditions ↓
Elkins is an active town
Only 24% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 32.1% across Arkansas. Habits ↓
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 Elkins’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Elkins’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elkins is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #10 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 94% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Elkins’ median household income is $81,789; among the 10,641 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 73%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arkansas
Share of adults, with the Arkansas figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Elkins adults…
Elkins runs below AR on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Elkins
No hospital or community health center in Elkins 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 Elkins; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Elkins adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Elkins adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Elkins 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.
6.3% of Elkins adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Elkins 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkins | B+ | 34% | 8.6% | 13% | CDC place |
| Fayetteville | B+ | 33.5% | 7.5% | 12% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elkins adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elkins
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elkins is better than Arkansas on 19 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Elkins’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elkins | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.5%15.3–20.1 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.4–14.6 | 15.6% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.4–20.9 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34%29–38.9 | 39.3% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.6%7.4–9.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.1%29.7–36.4 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33%29.6–36.3 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 22%19.5–24.5 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.8%5.1–6.7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.4–2.9 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.1%10–14.7 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%11–15.4 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24%20.6–27.8 | 32.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%14.8–20.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.7%31.5–40.5 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8.2–12.3 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%71.5–78.5 | 79% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.7%55.5–62.1 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.4–86.9 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.3%66.1–72.3 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%58.8–67.6 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.2%62.2–75.9 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22.2–28.9 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%29.4–37.1 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%22–28.7 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.4%10.3–14.9 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.3%9.6–13.3 | 14.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.3–8.6 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.3%6.3–8.5 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.3%5.1–7.9 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.2%27.6–35.3 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12%10.5–13.8 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%14.6–18.9 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.6–4.5 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%6.8–8.8 | 10% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.3 | 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 Elkins
Is Elkins a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elkins is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #10 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elkins?
CDC estimates 34% of adults have obesity, likely between 29% and 38.9%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elkins?
Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, 9.7 miles in a straight line from Elkins’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elkins have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–12.3%), 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 Elkins more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Elkins.
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.