Photo: Paltron · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Howe residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Howe, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Howe. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Howe
Dental care lags in Howe
45% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.1% across Oklahoma. Among those 65 and older, 20.3% have lost all their teeth (Oklahoma 16.4%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Howe
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.9%), vs 18.5% across Oklahoma. No reliable transportation (13.1% vs 9.6%) and utility shut-off threats (13.6% vs 10.3%) are higher too. 24% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Smoking is more common in Howe
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (23.8%), vs 16.3% across Oklahoma. Habits ↓
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 Howe’s likely range.
Keeping up with care
Share of Howe adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24% of Howe adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
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.
Out of every 100 Howe adults…
Howe runs above OK on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Howe
No hospital or community health center in Howe 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 Howe; ≈ 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).
How Howe adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Howe runs above Oklahoma.
4 in 10 Howe 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.
Howe and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Howe adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Howe
Why doesn’t Howe have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Howe.
What hospital is closest to Howe?
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center in Poteau, 6.8 miles in a straight line from Howe’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Howe?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is HWC - Poteau in Poteau, 9.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Howe.
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. 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.