Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Salem is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Salem trails Arkansas on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
Salem is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Salem is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Salem
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.6%), vs 8.6% across Arkansas. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.4%), vs 7.7% across Arkansas. Stroke is also above the state: 5.3%, vs 4% across Arkansas. In all, Salem runs above Arkansas on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Salem
47.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.7% across Arkansas. Among those 65 and older, 32.8% have lost all their teeth (Arkansas 18.6%). Checkups ↓
Salem is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Salem is healthier than 6%. Against the 2,621 towns with similar household incomes ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 30%. 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 Salem’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Salem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 25% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Salem’s median household income is $40,833; among the 2,621 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 30%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs above AR on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Care in and near Salem
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Salem, 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 Salem; ≈ 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.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Salem adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Salem 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 Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Salem and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | D | 39.5% | 15.6% | 20.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salem
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salem is better than Arkansas on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Salem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salem | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.1%24.5–33.5 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.4–21.8 | 15.6% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.4%17.9–22.9 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%31.4–47.8 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.6%13.4–18 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.2%41.7–50.6 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%36.8–45.9 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.3%31.6–39.1 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.5 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.2–11.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.6%10.5–14.7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32.8%27.7–38 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.2%16.5–24 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.9%30.6–43 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.4%10.8–16.2 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%32.1–46.2 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%8.6–14 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.2–83.2 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.6%43.7–51.6 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%81.6–86.6 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%76.7–82 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.3%53.8–64.7 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.2%59.4–76.4 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.8%23.8–32.1 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%28.4–39.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.6%21.6–30.2 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.5%16.5–24.9 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.1%11.6–17.1 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.3%9.5–13.3 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.1–12.7 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.7%11.6–18.3 | 11.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.7%38.9–50.1 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.1%19.5–26.4 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%17.9–24 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.8%10.3–13.3 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%6.8–9.2 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13%10.9–15 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.2–7.1 | 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 Salem
Is Salem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 30%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Salem?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 47.8%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Baxter Health Fulton County Hospital in Salem, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Salem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.6–14%), 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 Salem 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 Salem.
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.