Central National Bank · Photo: Zeugzeug · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Alva is healthier than 93%
Alva differs from Oklahoma on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alva. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alva
Alva looks healthier next to Oklahoma than next to the country
It’s healthier than 84% of the 131 Oklahoma towns we grade, but 47% of towns nationwide. Much of Oklahoma scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Alva is short on primary care and mental health care
Alva’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Alva is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Alva is healthier than 47%. Against the 2,584 towns with similar household incomes ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 93%. 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 Oklahoma figure falls outside Alva’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Alva’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alva is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #22 of 131 in Oklahoma. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 71% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Alva’s median household income is $40,709; among the 2,584 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 93%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Oklahoma towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Alva is healthier than 84% of graded towns, against 47% nationally.
Care in and near Alva
1 hospital in Alva, 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 Alva; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Alva adults…
Alva runs below OK on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Oklahoma
Share of adults, with the Oklahoma figure marked.
5.5 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Alva adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
How Alva adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
1 in 3 Alva 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.
13.8% of Alva adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Alva and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alva | B− | 35.8% | 10.7% | 14.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alva adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alva
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alva is better than Oklahoma on 4 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Alva’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alva | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.6%17–22.4 | 21.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.9–15.3 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.7–21.4 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.8%28–43.8 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.2–12.2 | 12.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.4%30.7–38.2 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%32.1–40.3 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.2%23.4–29.1 | 27.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.1–12.9 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.2–7.7 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.5%14.4–20.9 | 16.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.4%12.3–16.8 | 16.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.5%24.9–34.4 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.1–18.1 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%29.1–42.9 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8.3–12.3 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%72.9–80.5 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.7%54.7–62.5 | 57.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.9%78.3–83.3 | 84.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.7%72.4–76.9 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.1%56.6–67.2 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.5%59.3–76.5 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.4%23.4–31.5 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.8%29.4–40.5 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%19.7–27.6 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.5%13.5–20 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%9.8–14 | 14.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.4–10.2 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%7.9–10.9 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.8%11.3–16.8 | 15.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.9%34.2–43.8 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.3%13.4–17.4 | 17.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%16–20.8 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 9.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5–6.4 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.7–11.3 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 4.3% | 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 Oklahoma figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Alva
Is Alva a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alva is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #22 of 131 in Oklahoma. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alva?
CDC estimates 35.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 28% and 43.8%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alva?
Share Medical Center in Alva, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Alva’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Alva have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.3–12.3%), against 11.3% across Oklahoma.
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 Alva more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alva.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oklahoma 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.