Memphis and Arkansas Bridge · Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]) · CC BY 3.0West Memphis’ CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
West Memphis differs from Arkansas on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Memphis. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Memphis
West Memphis is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, West Memphis is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in West Memphis
36% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 18.5% across Arkansas (about twice the Arkansas rate). Utility shut-off threats (22.2% vs 10.4%) and housing insecurity (27.4% vs 14.4%) are higher too. 29.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in West Memphis
43.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.7% across Arkansas. Among those 65 and older, 27% have lost all their teeth (Arkansas 18.6%). Checkups ↓
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 West Memphis’ likely range.
What’s behind West Memphis’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Memphis is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #117 of 123 in Arkansas. All seven of West Memphis’ estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 49.6% of adults, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
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 Memphis’ median household income is $42,674; among the 3,245 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 5%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where West Memphis compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.4% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 11.4% (U.S. 15.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
29.8% of West Memphis adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Memphis adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Out of every 100 West Memphis adults…
West Memphis runs below AR on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near West Memphis
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in West Memphis, 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 West Memphis; ≈ 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.
6.2 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
How West Memphis adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, West Memphis runs above Arkansas.
2 in 5 West Memphis 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 Memphis and the towns around it
West Memphis’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Memphis | D− | 49.6% | 19.1% | 21% | CDC place |
| Marion | C+ | 41.3% | 11.5% | 14.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Memphis adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Memphis
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Memphis is better than Arkansas on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Arkansas figure falls inside West Memphis’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Memphis | AR | U.S. | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.4%31.1–37.8 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.6–20.7 | 15.6% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.8–23.5 | 18.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 49.6%41.9–57.3 | 39.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.1%16.9–21.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 50.8%46.4–55 | 41.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.9%35.5–44.2 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.2%27.8–34.6 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.8–13.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 7.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.7–11.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27%23–31.2 | 18.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21%18.4–23.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 42.7%37.6–47.8 | 32.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.4%9.1–13.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44%37.6–50.5 | 38.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.7%11.8–15.8 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%78.9–85 | 79% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 43.2%39.4–46.9 | 54.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.4%82.4–86.2 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.8–80.8 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60%54.6–65 | 61.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%65.9–80.5 | 71.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.7%20.1–27.5 | 24.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.1%34.7–45.8 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34%29.7–38.5 | 27% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36%32.5–39.5 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 27.4%24.4–30.4 | 14.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 22.2%19.8–24.6 | 10.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18%16.1–19.9 | 9.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 29.8%26.8–32.9 | 11.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.2%41.5–50.9 | 38.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.5%22–27.1 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.5%20.2–24.9 | 18.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 8.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.4%9.6–11.3 | 6.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.5%13.1–15.9 | 10% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8%7.4–8.7 | 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 West Memphis
Is West Memphis a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Memphis is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #117 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 West Memphis?
CDC estimates 49.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.9% and 57.3%, against 39.3% across Arkansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Memphis?
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden in West Memphis, 1.8 miles in a straight line from West Memphis’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in West Memphis have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.8–15.8%), 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 West Memphis more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Memphis.
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.