Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]) · CC BY 3.0Where Madison residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Madison, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Madison. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Madison
Diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure run high in Madison
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (20.5%), vs 13.3% across Arkansas. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 4% across Arkansas. High blood pressure is also above the state: 53.7%, vs 41.4% across Arkansas. In all, Madison runs above Arkansas on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 33% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%), and diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Madison
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.1%), vs 18.5% across Arkansas. Utility shut-off threats (16% vs 10.4%) and housing insecurity (21% vs 14.4%) are higher too. 19% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in Madison, and more people treating it
53.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Arkansas 41.4%), but 83.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.9% statewide. 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 Madison’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Madison adults…
Madison runs below AR on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Madison is an older town: 33% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Arthritis, stroke and diabetes rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Madison as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19% of Madison adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Madison adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Care in and near Madison
1 community health center in Madison, 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 Madison; ≈ 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.
How Madison adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Madison runs above Arkansas.
4 in 10 Madison 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.
Madison and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Madison adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Madison
Why doesn’t Madison have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Madison.
What hospital is closest to Madison?
Forrest City Medical Center in Forrest City, 2.7 miles in a straight line from Madison’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Madison?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Madison Area Clinic in Madison, 0.5 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Madison.
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. 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.