On CDC estimates, Helena is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns
Helena differs from Oklahoma on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Helena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Helena
Smoking is more common in Helena
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (24.3%), vs 16.3% across Oklahoma. Habits ↓
The nearest ER is 22 miles from Helena
The closest emergency room is Fairview Regional Medical Center Authority in Fairview, 21.9 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Great Salt Plains Health Center is closer (15.1 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Diabetes and high blood pressure run high in Helena
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (15.9%), vs 12.8% across Oklahoma. 46.9% of adults have high blood pressure, vs 38.5% across Oklahoma. In all, Helena runs above Oklahoma on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression and asthma are less common in Helena
Helena runs below Oklahoma on depression (19.6% vs 25.5%) and asthma (9.5% vs 11.5%). 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 Helena’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Helena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Helena is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 66% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Helena’s median household income is $61,500; among the 9,295 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
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.
Care in and near Helena
No hospital or community health center in Helena 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 Helena; ≈ 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 Helena adults…
Helena runs below OK on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Helena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
How Helena adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Helena does better than Oklahoma.
3 in 10 Helena 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.
16.9% of Helena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Helena and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | D | 46% | 15.9% | 24.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Helena adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Helena
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Helena is better than Oklahoma on 2 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Helena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Helena | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25%20.6–29.8 | 21.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.2–18 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%13.9–18.4 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46%36.8–55.3 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.9%13.7–18.4 | 12.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.9%41.8–51.8 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40%35.1–44.8 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%23.9–31.1 | 27.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.3–10.9 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.2–7.8 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.5–9.9 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.3–10.5 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.5–21.1 | 16.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.3%19.6–29 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.3%27.9–40.7 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.3–19.6 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6%32.5–46.2 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.3%10.2–17.1 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.7%71.6–79.6 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.2%48.2–55.7 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.6%81.8–87.2 | 84.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75%71.2–78.6 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.9%48.5–58.8 | 59.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.3%55.5–73.4 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.6%16.4–23.2 | 25.5% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 30.2%25.1–36 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.5%25–34.7 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.6%16.5–25.3 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.2%13.4–19.5 | 14.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.8%10.8–15 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.5–12 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.9%13.2–21 | 15.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8%32.9–44.8 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.7%14.8–20.9 | 17.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14–19.7 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%8.8–11.6 | 9.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.4–7.5 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.3–10.3 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.4–6.3 | 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 Helena
Is Helena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Helena is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Helena?
CDC estimates 46% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.8% and 55.3%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Helena?
Fairview Regional Medical Center Authority in Fairview, 21.9 miles in a straight line from Helena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Helena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.2–17.1%), 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 Helena more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Helena.
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.