Photo: Ardelta · CC BY-SA 4.0Forrest City’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Forrest City differs from Arkansas on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Forrest City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Forrest City
Making ends meet is harder in Forrest City
1 in 4 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (26.7%), more than twice the Arkansas rate. Food insecurity (42.3% vs 18.5%) and housing insecurity (31.5% vs 14.4%) are higher too. 36% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Forrest City
37.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.7% across Arkansas. Among those 65 and older, 33.9% have lost all their teeth (Arkansas 18.6%). Checkups ↓
Forrest City is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Forrest City is healthier than fewer than 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. 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 Forrest City’s likely range.
What’s behind Forrest City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Forrest City is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #121 of 123 in Arkansas. All seven of Forrest City’s estimates fall in the lowest 4% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 52.9% of adults, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
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). Forrest City’s median household income is $35,689; among the 1,372 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$45K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Forrest City compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
36% of Forrest City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Forrest City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Out of every 100 Forrest City adults…
Forrest City runs below AR on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Forrest City residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Forrest City
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Forrest City, 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 Forrest City; ≈ 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.
0.3 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Forrest City adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Forrest City runs above Arkansas.
2 in 5 Forrest City 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.
Forrest City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest City | D− | 52.9% | 21.3% | 26.3% | CDC place |
| Caldwell | — | — | — | — |
Caldwell: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Forrest City adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Forrest City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Forrest City is better than Arkansas on 2 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Forrest City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Forrest City | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 37.9%34–41.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.3–21.8 | 15.6% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.3%19–23.8 | 18.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 52.9%45.1–60.5 | 39.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 21.3%18.9–23.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 53.2%48.7–57.5 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%31.8–40.2 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.8%26.5–33.1 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.7%10.4–13.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 33.9%29.3–38.9 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 26.3%22.8–29.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 46.6%41.1–52.1 | 32.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.1%9.8–14.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 50.1%42.9–57.2 | 38.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.1%14.5–20.4 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%76.7–83.3 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 37.8%34.1–41.6 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.7%79.3–84 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%74.8–80.3 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54.5%48.9–59.7 | 61.6% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%66.9–81.8 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%17.9–24.5 | 24.6% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 38.2%32.9–43.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 36.4%31.9–41 | 27% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 42.3%37.8–46.8 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 31.5%27.9–35.2 | 14.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 26.7%23.7–29.7 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 21.1%18.6–23.5 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36%31.7–40 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.1%42.1–52 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.7%22.9–28.6 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.6%21–26.3 | 18.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9 | 8.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 12%10.8–13.2 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.5%13.9–17.3 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 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 Forrest City
Is Forrest City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Forrest City is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #121 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Forrest City?
CDC estimates 52.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 45.1% and 60.5%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Forrest City?
Forrest City Medical Center in Forrest City, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Forrest City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Forrest City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.5–20.4%), 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 Forrest City more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Forrest City.
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.