Photo: G. Edward Johnson · CC BY 4.0Chelsea’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Chelsea trails Oklahoma on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chelsea. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chelsea
Chelsea is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Chelsea is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Chelsea
41.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.1% across Oklahoma. Among those 65 and older, 28.4% have lost all their teeth (Oklahoma 16.4%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Chelsea
1 in 8 adults have COPD (13.1%), vs 8% across Oklahoma. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.4%), vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.9%, vs 7.3% across Oklahoma. In all, Chelsea runs above Oklahoma on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Chelsea’s likely range.
What’s behind Chelsea’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chelsea is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Chelsea’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 26.3% of adults, against 16.3% across Oklahoma and 11.8% 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). Chelsea’s median household income is $50,875; among the 6,095 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Chelsea adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Out of every 100 Chelsea adults…
Chelsea runs above OK on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Chelsea residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Oklahoma. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Chelsea
No hospital or community health center in Chelsea 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 Chelsea; ≈ 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 Chelsea adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Chelsea runs above Oklahoma.
1 in 3 Chelsea 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.
29.4% of Chelsea adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Chelsea and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | D− | 46.8% | 17% | 26.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chelsea adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chelsea
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chelsea is better than Oklahoma on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Chelsea’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chelsea | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30%26.4–33.6 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.5–22.1 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.3%19.8–24.8 | 18% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.8%40.7–53.1 | 38.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17%14.9–19.1 | 12.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.1%39.4–46.9 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39%35.2–42.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.6%28.5–34.7 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.7%12.2–15.4 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.9%8.9–11 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.1%11.6–14.9 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%4.9–6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.4%24–33 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 26.3%22.9–29.9 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.1%35.1–45.3 | 31.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%10.6–15.5 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%33.9–45.9 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.3%10.8–16.1 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%73–80 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 41.9%38.2–45.5 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80%77.3–82.5 | 84.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.6%72.9–78.2 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55%49.6–60.4 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 60.6%51.6–69.5 | 70.4% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.9%25.1–32.6 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.6%30.7–41 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.8%23.6–32.1 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30%25.4–34.5 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.2%17.3–23.3 | 14.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.4%14.2–18.7 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.9%13.8–18.1 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 29.4%25.1–33.9 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50.1%45.4–54.8 | 38.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.7%21.9–27.6 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.4%21.6–27.1 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12.4%11.1–13.7 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10%9–11.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.4%13.6–17.3 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6.2–7.8 | 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 Chelsea
Is Chelsea a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chelsea is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chelsea?
CDC estimates 46.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.7% and 53.1%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chelsea?
Ascension St. John Nowata in Nowata, 15.7 miles in a straight line from Chelsea’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Chelsea have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–16.1%), 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 Chelsea 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 Chelsea.
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.