Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Checotah is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Checotah differs from Oklahoma on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Checotah. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Checotah
Checotah is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Checotah is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Checotah
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.7%), vs 8% across Oklahoma. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.7%), vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.6%, vs 7.3% across Oklahoma. In all, Checotah runs above Oklahoma on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Checotah
47.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.1% across Oklahoma. Among those 65 and older, 28.2% have lost all their teeth (Oklahoma 16.4%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Checotah, and more people treating it
47.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Oklahoma 38.5%), but 79.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% statewide. 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 Oklahoma figure falls outside Checotah’s likely range.
What’s behind Checotah’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Checotah is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #120 of 131 in Oklahoma. All seven of Checotah’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 41.7% of adults, against 31.1% across Oklahoma 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). Checotah’s median household income is $37,042; among the 1,639 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Checotah compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.8% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Checotah adults…
Checotah runs above OK on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Checotah adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Care in and near Checotah
1 community health center in Checotah, 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 Checotah; ≈ 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 Oklahoma
Share of adults, with the Oklahoma figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Checotah adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Checotah runs above Oklahoma.
1 in 3 Checotah 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.
24.5% of Checotah adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Checotah and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checotah | D− | 45.4% | 17.4% | 22.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Checotah adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Checotah
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Checotah is better than Oklahoma on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Checotah’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Checotah | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.6%25.8–33.6 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%16.9–21.7 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%18.3–23 | 18% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.4%37.2–53.5 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.4%15.2–19.7 | 12.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.7%43.4–52 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.3%37.9–46.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.2%32.6–39.7 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.1%11.6–14.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.6%9.5–12 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.7%10.9–14.6 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.2%23.8–33.3 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.9%19.7–26.3 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 41.7%35.9–47.4 | 31.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.1%9.8–14.7 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4%30.8–45.2 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.4%10.4–14.6 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%76.3–83.1 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.3%43.5–51.3 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.3%81–85.3 | 84.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77.2–82 | 76.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.4%52.9–64.1 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 61.5%52.3–71 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.5%23.6–31.5 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%29.9–41.1 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.1%23–31.3 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.1%22.5–30 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.7%15.2–20.3 | 14.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14%12.3–15.9 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%11.8–15.1 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.5%21–28.3 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50.2%45.1–55.2 | 38.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.8%22.6–29.1 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%19.4–24.7 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12.9%11.5–14.5 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.1%12.4–15.9 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 4.3% | 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 Oklahoma figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Checotah
Is Checotah a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Checotah is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #120 of 131 in Oklahoma. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Checotah?
CDC estimates 45.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.2% and 53.5%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Checotah?
Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee in Muskogee, 19.8 miles in a straight line from Checotah’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Checotah have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.4–14.6%), 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 Checotah 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 Checotah.
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.