Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, West Fork is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns
West Fork beats Arkansas on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Fork. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Fork
What’s behind West Fork’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Fork is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 59% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). West Fork’s median household income is $77,566; among the 10,806 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$97K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.5% of West Fork adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Out of every 100 West Fork adults…
West Fork runs below AR on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near West Fork
No hospital or community health center in West Fork 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 West Fork; ≈ 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.
0.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of West Fork adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How West Fork adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 West Fork 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.
West Fork and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Fork | C | 36.3% | 11.5% | 16% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Fork adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Fork
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Fork is better than Arkansas on 5 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside West Fork’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Fork | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%19.1–25.1 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.7–17.7 | 15.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.5–20.9 | 18.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.3%31.2–41.2 | 39.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%10–13.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 39.8%36.2–43.2 | 41.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.8–40.9 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.3%24.5–30.1 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.4–8 | 7.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%7.2–9.7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–4 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.7%13–18.8 | 18.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%13.5–18.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.7%24.6–33 | 32.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%13–18.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.4%31.1–40.1 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.4%8.4–12.6 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%73.6–80.1 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.9%53.7–60.3 | 54.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%83.1–87.2 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%71–76.9 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%61.1–69.8 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.1%60.9–75.1 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%22–28.7 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%28.5–36.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.1–29 | 27% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.9%12.4–17.6 | 18.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.1–14.1 | 14.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.4%7.1–9.8 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7–9.5 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%6.9–10.3 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.3%32.2–40.8 | 38.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.5%14.4–19 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%15.7–20.2 | 18.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 8.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.7–6 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8.2–10.7 | 10% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 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 West Fork
Is West Fork a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Fork is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Fork?
CDC estimates 36.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.2% and 41.2%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Fork?
Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, 12.0 miles in a straight line from West Fork’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Fork have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–12.6%), 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 West Fork more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Fork.
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.