On CDC estimates, Southside is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns
Southside trails Arkansas on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Southside. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Southside
Southside is in the bottom 7% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Southside is healthier than only 7% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Southside looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 28% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 7% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
COPD runs high in Southside
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), vs 8.6% across Arkansas. Conditions ↓
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 Southside’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Southside’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Southside is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns, #89 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 27% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Southside’s median household income is $65,655; among the 10,044 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 5%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Arkansas towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Southside is healthier than 28% of graded towns, against 7% nationally.
Out of every 100 Southside adults…
Southside runs above AR on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Southside
No hospital or community health center in Southside 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 Southside; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Southside adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Southside adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Southside 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% of Southside adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Southside and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Southside adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Southside
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Southside is better than Arkansas on 0 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Southside’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Southside | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.3%23.7–31.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.6–20.1 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.1–23.1 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.3%34.6–50.2 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.7%11.9–15.7 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.6%37.4–45.8 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.9–44.5 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.1%27.8–34.6 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.4 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%8–9.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.3–12.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.9%19.1–26.9 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%15.8–21.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.2%31.9–42.9 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.7–17.6 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.4%33.5–45.8 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.2%9.8–14.8 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%74.5–81.8 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.6%47.9–55.3 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%80.1–84.9 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.4–79.6 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59%54.1–64 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69%60.4–76.7 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.4–31.5 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.2%30.3–41.1 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.6%23.7–32.3 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.7%17.3–24.6 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.7%12.4–17.3 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11%9.3–12.7 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.2–12.4 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14%11.5–16.9 | 11.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.5%37.6–47.8 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.9%17.5–22.7 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%18.4–23.8 | 18.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%9–11.3 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.3–8.1 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.4–13.6 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.7–6.1 | 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 Southside
Is Southside a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Southside is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health, #89 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 5%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Southside?
CDC estimates 42.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 50.2%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Southside?
White River Medical Center in Batesville, 3.4 miles in a straight line from Southside’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Southside have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–14.8%), 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 Southside 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 Southside.
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.