Waldo Water Tower · Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Waldo is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns
Waldo differs from Arkansas on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waldo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waldo
Making ends meet is harder in Waldo
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (30.7%), vs 18.5% across Arkansas. Utility shut-off threats (18.6% vs 10.4%) and housing insecurity (23.9% vs 14.4%) are higher too. 22.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Waldo is in the bottom 7% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Waldo is healthier than only 7% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, obesity, diabetes and exercise. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 25 miles from Waldo
The closest emergency room is Springhill Medical Center in Springhill, 25.1 miles away in a straight line. And 14.8% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 9.7% across Arkansas. For everyday care, Mainline Health Magnolia Clinic is closer (5.8 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Waldo, and more people treating it
50.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Arkansas 41.4%), but 80.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Waldo is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Waldo is healthier than 7%. Against the 2,531 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 36%. 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 Waldo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Waldo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waldo is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 24% of U.S. towns); no exercise 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). Waldo’s median household income is $40,500; among the 2,531 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 36%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Waldo compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.3% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 10.8% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 83.4% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.6% of Waldo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Care in and near Waldo
No hospital or community health center in Waldo 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 Waldo; ≈ 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 Waldo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Out of every 100 Waldo adults…
Waldo runs below AR on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
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 Waldo adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Waldo runs above Arkansas.
2 in 5 Waldo 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.
Waldo and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldo | D | 44% | 18.5% | 17.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waldo adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waldo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waldo is better than Arkansas on 6 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Waldo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waldo | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30%25.8–34.6 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.2–18.8 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.8–21.6 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44%36.1–52.1 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.5%16.1–21.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 50.6%46.1–55 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%32.3–40.8 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31%27.7–34.5 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.5–13.4 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.6–7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.2–9.2 | 7.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9%7.7–10.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.9%21.8–30.7 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%14.4–21.2 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 38.6%32.6–44.8 | 32.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.8%8.7–13.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 47.1%39.7–54.4 | 38.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.6%8.9–14.6 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.4%80.2–86.3 | 79% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.8%41.5–50 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.2–88.7 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%78.1–82.9 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.7%56.1–67 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.3%72.9–86.1 | 71.4% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.7%17.6–24.1 | 24.6% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 37.5%32–43 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.5%28.1–37.3 | 27% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.7%25.5–36.4 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.9%20.1–28.1 | 14.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.6%15.9–21.7 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.8%12.6–17.5 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.6%18.2–27.6 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.5%36.1–47.1 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.8%18.7–25.1 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.2%16.6–22.3 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.2–8 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8.7%7.5–10.1 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%10.4–14.2 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%5.7–7.8 | 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 Waldo
Is Waldo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waldo is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 36%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waldo?
CDC estimates 44% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.1% and 52.1%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waldo?
Springhill Medical Center in Springhill, 25.1 miles in a straight line from Waldo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waldo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.9–14.6%), 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 Waldo 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 Waldo.
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.