Sears House · Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Arkansas, Ward is healthier than 77% of graded towns
Ward differs from Arkansas on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ward. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ward
Ward looks healthier next to Arkansas than next to the country
It’s healthier than 77% of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade, but 44% of towns nationwide. Much of Arkansas scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Ward doesn’t win on
18.7% of adults binge drink, vs 14.6% across Arkansas. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Depression is more common in Ward
3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression (29.1%), vs 24.6% across Arkansas. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 21.7%, vs 18.5% across Arkansas. Mind & connection ↓
Heart disease and diabetes are less common in Ward
Ward runs below Arkansas on seven chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.8% vs 7.7%), diabetes (8.3% vs 13.3%) and stroke (2.5% vs 4%). A young population is part of it: only 8% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%). 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 Ward’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Ward’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ward is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #29 of 123 in Arkansas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 95% of U.S. towns); mental 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). Ward’s median household income is $72,734; among the 10,710 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$91K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Where Ward compares well: arthritis, 21.9% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6% (U.S. 7.9%); coronary heart disease, 4.8% (U.S. 6.4%).
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 Ward adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Ward runs above Arkansas.
4 in 10 Ward 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.
Out of every 100 Ward adults…
Ward runs below AR on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Ward residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Ward
No hospital or community health center in Ward 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 Ward; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ward adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.4% of Ward adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Ward and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ward adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ward
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ward is better than Arkansas on 9 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside Ward’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ward | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%17.2–23.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12–15.8 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.7%19–24.6 | 18.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%29.1–42.9 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.3%7.2–9.7 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.9%28.3–36 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.3%29.6–37.4 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.9%19.3–24.8 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.5–12.3 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.3–6.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.4%5.5–7.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.8 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.5%18.1–25.4 | 18.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%13.6–19.9 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%23.9–33.7 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.7%15.4–22.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40%33.9–46.5 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%7.9–12.5 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.8%70.7–78.5 | 79% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.7%48.9–56.5 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.1%78.1–83.9 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67.3%63.9–70.4 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.8%54.7–64.8 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.2%62–77.6 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.1%25.1–33.4 | 24.6% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%32.1–42.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%22.8–31 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.1%13.1–19.6 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.6%11.3–16.1 | 14.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.5%8–11.1 | 10.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%7.8–10.7 | 9.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.4%7.3–11.7 | 11.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%30.3–40 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%10.1–13.7 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20%17.1–23 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%7.7–10.4 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Ward
Is Ward a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ward is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #29 of 123 in Arkansas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ward?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 42.9%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ward?
Unity Health - Jacksonville in Jacksonville, 13.6 miles in a straight line from Ward’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ward have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.9–12.5%), 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 Ward more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ward.
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.