Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Arkansas, Johnson is healthier than 87% of graded towns
Johnson differs from Arkansas on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Johnson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Johnson
Johnson looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 87% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 61% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Stroke and heart disease are less common in Johnson
Johnson runs below Arkansas on seven chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.8% vs 4%), heart disease (5.5% vs 7.7%) and COPD (6.2% vs 8.6%). A young population is part of it: only 6% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%). Conditions ↓
Johnson is an active town
Only 25.7% 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 Johnson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Johnson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Johnson is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns, #17 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 85% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 35%).
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). Johnson’s median household income is $95,844; among the 9,179 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$120K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Johnson adults…
Johnson runs below AR on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 6% of Johnson residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arkansas
Share of adults, with the Arkansas figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Johnson
No hospital or community health center in Johnson 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 Johnson; ≈ 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 Johnson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Johnson adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Johnson 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.
8.3% of Johnson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Johnson and the towns around it
Johnson’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson | B | 34.7% | 9.6% | 13% | CDC place |
| Fayetteville | B+ | 33.5% | 7.5% | 12% | CDC place |
| Springdale | C− | 39.5% | 12.3% | 16% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Johnson adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Johnson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Johnson is better than Arkansas on 17 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Johnson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Johnson | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.3%16.9–21.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.7–14.9 | 15.6% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.9–20 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.7%29.7–39.4 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.5%31.1–37.7 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.7%30.3–36.9 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 22%19.7–24.4 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.5 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.2%5.4–7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.4%12.1–17.1 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%10.9–15.2 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 25.7%22.2–29.1 | 32.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.8–19.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%29.9–38.6 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11%9.2–13 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.7%72.1–78.9 | 79% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.7%57.7–64 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84%81.9–86 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.2%67–73 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.8%58.3–67.3 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.7%62.9–76.3 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.2–27.5 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.6%29–36.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.8–28 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%12.7–17.3 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.5%10.7–14.4 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.4%7.3–9.7 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.3–9.5 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.3%6.8–9.9 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.1%28.4–35.8 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.1%11.4–14.8 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.8–18.8 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.7–7.2 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 10% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3–3.7 | 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 Johnson
Is Johnson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Johnson is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #17 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 47%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Johnson?
CDC estimates 34.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 39.4%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Johnson?
Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Johnson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Johnson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–13%), 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 Johnson 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 Johnson.
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.