Photo: Robert Nunnally (flickr user: gurdonark) · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Gurdon is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Gurdon differs from Arkansas on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gurdon. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gurdon
Gurdon is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Gurdon is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Gurdon
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.6%), vs 18.5% across Arkansas. Housing insecurity (19.7% vs 14.4%) and utility shut-off threats (14.2% vs 10.4%) are higher too. 16.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes and stroke run high in Gurdon
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.2%), vs 13.3% across Arkansas. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.7%), vs 4% across Arkansas. Conditions ↓
Gurdon is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Gurdon is healthier than 9%. Against the 4,876 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 26%. 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 Gurdon’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Gurdon’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gurdon is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 29% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Gurdon’s median household income is $47,587; among the 4,876 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.1% of Gurdon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Out of every 100 Gurdon adults…
Gurdon runs below AR on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gurdon
No hospital or community health center in Gurdon 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 Gurdon; ≈ 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gurdon adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Gurdon adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Gurdon runs above Arkansas.
4 in 10 Gurdon 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.
Gurdon and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gurdon | D | 44.7% | 16.2% | 17% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gurdon adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gurdon
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gurdon is better than Arkansas on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Gurdon’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gurdon | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.8%24.2–31.5 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.7–18.8 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.6–21.1 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.7%36.6–52.7 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.2%14.2–18.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.3%42.9–51.6 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%33.7–42.4 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.4%26.9–33.7 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.5 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.4–7.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 7.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.7%7.5–9.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.7%16.2–23.5 | 18.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17%14.3–19.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 36.8%31.5–42.2 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.6%10.1–15.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.3%37.5–51.4 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13%10.8–15.4 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.4%78–84.5 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.8%49.8–57.7 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%83.9–87.9 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.5–81.6 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.6%57.3–67.8 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%70.8–84.1 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.2–26.2 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%31.3–41.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.2%28.1–36.7 | 27% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.6%20.9–28.6 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.7%16.9–22.6 | 14.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.2%12.3–16.2 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.2%10.6–14 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.1%13.3–19.1 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%35.5–45.5 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.6–22.7 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%16.7–21.5 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.9–8.7 | 8.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.7–12.5 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%5–6.3 | 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 Gurdon
Is Gurdon a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gurdon is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 26%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gurdon?
CDC estimates 44.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.6% and 52.7%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gurdon?
Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia in Arkadelphia, 14.9 miles in a straight line from Gurdon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Gurdon have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–15.4%), 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 Gurdon 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 Gurdon.
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.