Arkansas Ordnance Plant Guard House · Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Arkansas, Gibson is healthier than 89% of graded towns
Gibson beats Arkansas on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gibson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gibson
Gibson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Gibson is healthier than 62%. Against the 10,144 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 82%. Health Grade ↓
Gibson looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 89% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 62% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Gibson keeps up with checkups
It beats Arkansas on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (64.5% vs 54.7%) and cholesterol checks (86.8% vs 84.8%). Checkups ↓
Gibson is an active town
Only 24.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 32.1% across Arkansas. Habits ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Gibson
Gibson runs below Arkansas on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (6.2% vs 8.6%), heart disease (5.7% vs 7.7%) and diabetes (10.1% vs 13.3%). Conditions ↓
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 Gibson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Gibson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gibson is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns, #15 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 79% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 40%).
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). Gibson’s median household income is $66,496; among the 10,144 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 82%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gibson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arkansas
Share of adults, with the Arkansas figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Gibson adults…
Gibson runs below AR on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gibson
No hospital or community health center in Gibson 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 Gibson; ≈ 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).
How Gibson adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Gibson 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.
6.8% of Gibson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Gibson and the towns around it
Gibson has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gibson | B | 37.2% | 10.1% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Sherwood | B− | 38.1% | 11.5% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| North Little Rock | D | 43% | 14.5% | 16.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gibson adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gibson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gibson is better than Arkansas on 20 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Gibson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gibson | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.4%16.1–20.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.3–14.5 | 15.6% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.5–19.6 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.2%32.6–42 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%34.1–40.8 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%32.4–39 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.4%22.8–28 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5–6.4 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.8–11.1 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%10.7–15 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%21.2–28.3 | 32.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.3–19.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.8%31.9–39.7 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%7.2–10.4 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%75.4–81.5 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.5%61.5–67.4 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%84.9–88.5 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%71–77 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.9%63–70.7 | 61.6% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%72.6–82.9 | 71.4% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21.5–27.9 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.1%30.5–38.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23.7–30.5 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.5%10.7–14.8 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%10.1–13.6 | 14.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%7.2–9.5 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.6–8.6 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.8%5.6–8.2 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.7%28.1–35.3 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%11.6–15.2 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.7–17.6 | 18.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%6.8–8.7 | 10% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.9–3.7 | 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 Gibson
Is Gibson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gibson is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #15 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 82%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gibson?
CDC estimates 37.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 42%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gibson?
St. Vincent Medical Center/North in Sherwood, 6.3 miles in a straight line from Gibson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gibson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–10.4%), 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 Gibson 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 Gibson.
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.