Noel’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Noel differs from Missouri on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Noel. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Noel
Making ends meet is harder in Noel
36% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 13.7% across Missouri (more than twice the Missouri rate). Housing insecurity (29.2% vs 12.1%) and utility shut-off threats (20.6% vs 9%) are higher too. 30.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Noel
41.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 27.1% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
1 in 4 working-age adults in Noel has no health insurance
23% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.7% across Missouri. 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 Missouri figure falls outside Noel’s likely range.
What’s behind Noel’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Noel is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Noel’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 44.1% of adults, against 28.8% across Missouri and 24.7% 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). Noel’s median household income is $41,483; among the 2,838 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 5%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Noel compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
30.1% of Noel adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Keeping up with care
Share of Noel adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Out of every 100 Noel adults…
Noel runs below MO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Noel residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Noel
No hospital or community health center in Noel 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 Noel; ≈ 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 Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
How Noel adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Noel runs above Missouri.
2 in 5 Noel 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.
Noel and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noel | D− | 47.7% | 16.4% | 24.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Noel adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Noel
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Noel is better than Missouri on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Noel’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Noel | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.7%30.8–38.9 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.8–21.4 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.7%19.4–24.4 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 47.7%39.2–56.5 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.4%14.3–18.7 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.2%34–42.9 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%31.1–39.9 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.6%22.7–29 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–13 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.2–7.8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.1%23.1–31.9 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.1%21–27.5 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 44.1%38.5–50.2 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.7–17.8 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.4%38.5–53.2 | 36.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 23%19.5–26.7 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%70.9–79 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 41.4%38–45.4 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 76.2%73.2–79 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.8%68.4–75 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 50.2%45.2–55.7 | 64% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.9%60.4–77.1 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.6–28.4 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38%32.5–43.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23–31 | 20.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36%31.5–40.9 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 29.2%25.6–33 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 20.6%18.2–23.3 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.7%16.4–21.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.1%26.1–34.3 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.5%41.5–51.9 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.4%18.8–24.2 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 25.7%22.9–28.7 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 8.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.5%12.9–16.3 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6.3–7.8 | 3.9% | 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 Missouri figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Noel
Is Noel a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Noel is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. 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 Noel?
CDC estimates 47.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.2% and 56.5%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Noel?
Ozarks Community Hospital of Gravette in Gravette, 9.1 miles in a straight line from Noel’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Noel have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 23% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 19.5–26.7%), against 8.7% across Missouri.
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 Noel 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 Noel.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri 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.