Van Lyell House · Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Lake Hamilton is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns
Lake Hamilton differs from Arkansas on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lake Hamilton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lake Hamilton
Cancer and heart disease run high in Lake Hamilton
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.2%), vs 8.2% across Arkansas. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.5%), vs 7.7% across Arkansas. In all, Lake Hamilton runs above Arkansas on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Lake Hamilton, and more people treating it
46.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Arkansas 41.4%), but 82% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Lake Hamilton keeps up with checkups
It beats Arkansas on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (60.4% vs 54.7%) and cholesterol checks (88.4% vs 84.8%). Checkups ↓
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 Lake Hamilton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Lake Hamilton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Hamilton is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 60% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Lake Hamilton’s median household income is $73,696; among the 10,811 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Lake Hamilton compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Lake Hamilton adults…
Lake Hamilton runs below AR on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lake Hamilton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Care in and near Lake Hamilton
No hospital or community health center in Lake Hamilton 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 Lake Hamilton; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Lake Hamilton adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Lake Hamilton 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.
8.6% of Lake Hamilton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Lake Hamilton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Hamilton | C | 37.8% | 14.8% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Hot Springs | D | 41.2% | 16.2% | 17.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lake Hamilton adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lake Hamilton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lake Hamilton is better than Arkansas on 9 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Lake Hamilton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lake Hamilton | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.1–27.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14–18.5 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.4–18.6 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.8%31.8–43.7 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.8%12.8–16.8 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 46.5%42.4–50.4 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%36.3–44.4 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.5%30.9–37.8 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.2%10.1–12.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.3–10.6 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.3%7.7–11 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5.1 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.6–14.3 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%11.7–17.3 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.4%24.5–34.2 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.4%10.9–15.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.1%29.9–40.5 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.1–11.3 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%77.7–83.9 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.4%56.6–63.8 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%86.3–90 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82%79.3–84.2 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%62.7–71.6 | 61.6% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%64.8–79.1 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%20.2–26.7 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.5%27.8–37.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%20.6–28.1 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.5%11.7–17.4 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.3%9.4–13.5 | 14.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%6.9–9.5 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.5–9 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%6.7–10.7 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.7%35–44.3 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.4%16.5–22.4 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%13.7–18.4 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.1–11.6 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 6.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%7.9–10.7 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 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 Lake Hamilton
Is Lake Hamilton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Hamilton is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lake Hamilton?
CDC estimates 37.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 43.7%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lake Hamilton?
CHI St. Vincent Hospital Hot Springs in Hot Springs, 4.4 miles in a straight line from Lake Hamilton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lake Hamilton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–11.3%), 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 Lake Hamilton 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 Lake Hamilton.
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.