Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Mount Ida is healthier than 58%
Mount Ida differs from Arkansas on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mount Ida. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mount Ida
Heart disease, cancer and stroke run high in Mount Ida
1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.3%), vs 7.7% across Arkansas. 1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.8%), vs 8.2% across Arkansas. Stroke is also above the state: 6.1%, vs 4% across Arkansas. In all, Mount Ida runs above Arkansas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%), and heart disease, cancer and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Mount Ida is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Mount Ida is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, physical distress, diabetes and exercise. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 33 miles from Mount Ida
The closest emergency room is Levi Hospital in Hot Springs, 32.7 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Healthy Connections is closer (0.6 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Mount Ida, and more people treating it
49.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Arkansas 41.4%), but 83% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Mount Ida is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Mount Ida is healthier than 10%. Against the 1,640 towns with similar household incomes ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 58%. Health Grade ↓
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 Mount Ida’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Mount Ida’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mount Ida is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 33% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Mount Ida’s median household income is $37,045; among the 1,640 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Mount Ida compares well: binge drinking, 11.8% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Mount Ida adults…
Mount Ida runs above AR on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Mount Ida is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Mount Ida as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Mount Ida
1 community health center in Mount Ida, 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 Mount Ida; ≈ 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 Mount Ida adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
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 Mount Ida adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Mount Ida 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.
11.6% of Mount Ida adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Mount Ida and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Ida | D | 39.8% | 16.7% | 17.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mount Ida adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mount Ida
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mount Ida is better than Arkansas on 5 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Mount Ida’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mount Ida | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.5%25.3–34.4 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17–22.7 | 15.6% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.8–20.5 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.8%31.9–48.7 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.7%14.3–19.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.4%44.7–54 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45.6%40.9–50.5 | 38% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 38.9%35–43 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.8%11.5–14.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 12.3%10.7–14.1 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.1%11–15.7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.1%5.3–7.2 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.6%20.3–29.4 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%14.2–20.4 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 38%31.8–44.5 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.6–14.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.7%32–46.2 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%8.7–14.3 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%78.9–85.1 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.5%47.6–55.7 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%85–88.9 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83%80.5–85.1 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%62.2–72.5 | 61.6% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67%58–75.7 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21.4–29.2 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.5%28.1–38.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.6%20.5–28.8 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.7%14.3–21.7 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.8%9.8–14.2 | 14.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9%7.6–10.5 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%7.9–11 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.6%9.2–14.5 | 11.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.7%42.3–53.4 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.8%22.1–29.8 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%16.7–22.5 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 14.1%12.4–16 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.2%6.9–9.8 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13%11–15.5 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.2–7.4 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Mount Ida
Is Mount Ida a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mount Ida is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mount Ida?
CDC estimates 39.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 48.7%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Mount Ida have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–14.3%), 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 Mount Ida more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mount Ida.
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.