Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Waldron is healthier than 71%
Waldron trails Arkansas on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waldron. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waldron
Waldron looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 39% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 12% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Waldron has no health insurance
15.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.3% across Arkansas. Checkups ↓
Waldron is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Waldron is healthier than 12%. Against the 1,067 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 71%. 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 Waldron’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Waldron’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waldron is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #75 of 123 in Arkansas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 45% of U.S. towns); no exercise 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). Waldron’s median household income is $33,839; among the 1,067 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 71%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Arkansas towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Waldron is healthier than 39% of graded towns, against 12% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of Waldron adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Out of every 100 Waldron adults…
Waldron runs above AR on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Waldron
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Waldron, 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 Waldron; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Waldron adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
4 in 10 Waldron 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.
13% of Waldron adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Waldron and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldron | D | 36.8% | 13.8% | 18.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waldron adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waldron
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waldron is better than Arkansas on 0 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Waldron’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waldron | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.3%24.2–32.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.4–20.3 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%17.5–22.5 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.8%28.6–45.5 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8%11.8–15.9 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.1%36.6–45.5 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%34.3–43.5 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.1%26.7–33.6 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.6–9.8 | 7.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.2%8.6–11.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–5 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.8%21.4–30.4 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.4%15.3–21.7 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.8%31.8–43.6 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.1–18 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4%30.5–44.7 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.1%12.3–18.5 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.1%73.3–80.6 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.4%46.5–54.3 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.9%79.3–84.4 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.7–79.1 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.4%55–65.6 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.1%55.6–73.8 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%22–30.1 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.5%31–42.3 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.6%24.4–33.2 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.1%17.5–25.3 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.4%13–18.2 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%9–12.3 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.2–12.6 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13%10.5–16 | 11.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.5%38.8–50 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.2–23.2 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.5%18.5–24.5 | 18.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9–11.6 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.4 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.1–13.7 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.4–6 | 4.6% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Waldron
Is Waldron a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waldron is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #75 of 123 in Arkansas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waldron?
CDC estimates 36.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 45.5%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waldron?
Mercy Hospital Waldron in Waldron, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Waldron’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Waldron have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.3–18.5%), 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 Waldron 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 Waldron.
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.