Within Arkansas, Lavaca is healthier than 78% of graded towns
Lavaca beats Arkansas on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lavaca. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lavaca
Lavaca looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 78% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 45% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Lavaca
Lavaca runs below Arkansas on four chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (9.9% vs 13.3%), stroke (3.1% vs 4%) and heart disease (6.2% vs 7.7%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Lavaca adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Arkansas. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 5 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Lavaca’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Lavaca’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lavaca is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #28 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 82% 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). Lavaca’s median household income is $80,924; among the 10,712 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$101K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Lavaca adults…
Lavaca runs below AR on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Lavaca residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7% of Lavaca adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Care in and near Lavaca
No hospital or community health center in Lavaca 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 Lavaca; ≈ 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.
0.3 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lavaca adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Lavaca adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
4 in 10 Lavaca 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.
Lavaca and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavaca | C+ | 34% | 9.9% | 15.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lavaca adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lavaca
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lavaca is better than Arkansas on 10 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Lavaca’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lavaca | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.5%17.2–24.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%12.7–17 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.3–22.3 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34%28.3–39.9 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.4–11.5 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35.9%32–39.8 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.9%33.9–41.9 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26%22.9–29.1 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7–8.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.1%5.9–8.4 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.6 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16%13.3–19.2 | 18.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.4%12.5–18.7 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28%23.4–33.2 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.5–19.2 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%31.5–42.7 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%7.7–12.4 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%72.5–79.5 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.4%53.8–60.9 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%82.4–87.2 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| 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) | 64.5%59.2–69.5 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.9%67.5–81.4 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.9%23.1–30.6 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37%32–41.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.7%22.8–30.7 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.1%10.4–16.1 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.3–13.5 | 14.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.5–9.1 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.4–8.9 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7%5.3–8.7 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.9%29.2–38.9 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%11.6–16.3 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%15.1–20.6 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%3.9–5.3 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.3–10.2 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.9–4 | 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 Lavaca
Is Lavaca a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lavaca is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #28 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lavaca?
CDC estimates 34% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.3% and 39.9%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lavaca?
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith in Fort Smith, 9.7 miles in a straight line from Lavaca’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lavaca have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–12.4%), 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 Lavaca 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 Lavaca.
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.