Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Arkansas, Jacksonville is healthier than 57% of graded towns
Jacksonville differs from Arkansas on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jacksonville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jacksonville
Jacksonville is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Jacksonville is healthier than 21%. Against the 5,667 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 51%. Health Grade ↓
Jacksonville looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 57% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 21% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Jacksonville
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (22.6%), vs 18.5% across Arkansas. Utility shut-off threats (14.2% vs 10.4%) and housing insecurity (18.6% vs 14.4%) are higher too. 15.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Jacksonville
Jacksonville runs below Arkansas on cancer (6.5% vs 8.2%) and heart disease (6.4% vs 7.7%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%). 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 Jacksonville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Jacksonville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jacksonville is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #54 of 123 in Arkansas. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 41% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Jacksonville’s median household income is $49,666; among the 5,667 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 51%, about where its income would put it.
Where Jacksonville compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.5% (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.
15.6% of Jacksonville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Out of every 100 Jacksonville adults…
Jacksonville runs below AR on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Jacksonville residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Jacksonville
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville; ≈ 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.
22 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Jacksonville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Jacksonville adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Jacksonville runs above Arkansas.
4 in 10 Jacksonville 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.
Jacksonville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | C− | 41.5% | 12.8% | 15.7% | CDC place |
| Sherwood | B− | 38.1% | 11.5% | 12.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jacksonville adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jacksonville
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jacksonville is better than Arkansas on 4 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Jacksonville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jacksonville | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%22.2–27 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13.2–16.3 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.7–21.8 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.5%36.9–45.9 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11.3–14.2 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41%37.8–44 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.7%31.6–37.6 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.6%23.2–27.9 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.4%18.3–24.7 | 18.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.7%13.8–17.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.3%27.8–34.7 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.5–17.5 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.7%36.7–44.9 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.9%10.3–13.6 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.9–81.8 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.7%49.6–55.8 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.7–85.6 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74%71.3–76.5 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.6%59.6–67.7 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.3%69.4–80.6 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.4–27.4 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.3%33.6–41.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.6%27.5–34.3 | 27% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.6%20.1–25.4 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.6%16.6–21 | 14.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.2%12.8–16 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%11.2–14.1 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.6%13.8–17.8 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5%34.1–40.9 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.2%15.4–19 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.2%17.2–21.1 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.2–7.4 | 6.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.7–11.8 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 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 Jacksonville
Is Jacksonville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jacksonville is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #54 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 51%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jacksonville?
CDC estimates 41.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.9% and 45.9%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jacksonville?
Unity Health - Jacksonville in Jacksonville, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Jacksonville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Jacksonville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–13.6%), 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 Jacksonville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Jacksonville.
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.