Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Newark is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Newark trails Arkansas on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Newark. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Newark
Newark is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Newark is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in Newark
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.3%), vs 15.8% across Arkansas. Habits ↓
More Newark adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (37.8%), vs 32.1% across Arkansas. Habits ↓
Newark is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Newark is healthier than 5%. Against the 2,504 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 27%. 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 Newark’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Newark’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 23% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Newark’s median household income is $40,417; among the 2,504 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
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.
Out of every 100 Newark adults…
Newark runs above AR on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Newark
No hospital or community health center in Newark 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 Newark; ≈ 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 Newark adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Newark adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Newark runs above Arkansas.
1 in 3 Newark 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.
14.7% of Newark adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Newark and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | D− | 43.8% | 14% | 20.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Newark adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Newark
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Newark is better than Arkansas on 0 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Newark’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Newark | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28%24.1–32.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16–21 | 15.6% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.2%18.8–24 | 18.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.8%36–51.8 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.1–16.1 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.2%38–46.4 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%36.1–44.8 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.8%28.3–35.2 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.6–9.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 7.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 11.2%9.6–13.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%3.9–5 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.6%19–26.8 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.3%17–24.1 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.8%32.6–44.2 | 32.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.7–17.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40%34–46.5 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.8%9.3–15.1 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%74.3–81.9 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.2%48.5–56 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.6%79.7–85.3 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%73.8–79.7 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.5%54.3–64.9 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.2%59.7–76.1 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.3%24.4–32.6 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%30.2–41.1 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.5%23.6–32.2 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.4%17.6–25.8 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.2%12.7–18 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.5%9.8–13.4 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%9.3–12.7 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.7%11.7–18.2 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.9%37.9–48.7 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.3%17.5–23.6 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.6%18.7–24.8 | 18.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.7–11.1 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.2–8.2 | 6.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%10.5–14.1 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.7–6.4 | 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 Newark
Is Newark a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− 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 Newark?
CDC estimates 43.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 36% and 51.8%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Newark?
White River Medical Center in Batesville, 10.9 miles in a straight line from Newark’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Newark have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–15.1%), 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 Newark 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 Newark.
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.