Photo: Jeremy Wagg · Public domainOn CDC estimates, McAlester is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
McAlester trails Oklahoma on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for McAlester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in McAlester
Dental care lags in McAlester
48% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.1% across Oklahoma. Among those 65 and older, 24.7% have lost all their teeth (Oklahoma 16.4%). Checkups ↓
McAlester is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, McAlester is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on mental distress, smoking and exercise. Health Grade ↓
McAlester looks healthier next to Oklahoma than next to the country
It’s healthier than 33% of the 131 Oklahoma towns we grade, but 10% of towns nationwide. Much of Oklahoma scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in McAlester
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.8%), vs 18.5% across Oklahoma. Utility shut-off threats (13.4% vs 10.3%) and no reliable transportation (12.4% vs 9.6%) are higher too. 21.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 McAlester’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind McAlester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, McAlester is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #88 of 131 in Oklahoma. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 24% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). McAlester’s median household income is $51,930; among the 6,435 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Oklahoma towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state McAlester is healthier than 33% of graded towns, against 10% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of McAlester 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.
21.8% of McAlester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Out of every 100 McAlester adults…
McAlester runs above OK on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near McAlester
2 community health centers in McAlester, 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 McAlester; ≈ 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.
12 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How McAlester adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
1 in 3 McAlester 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.
McAlester and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of McAlester adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for McAlester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, McAlester is better than Oklahoma on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside McAlester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | McAlester | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.2%22.9–27.9 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%15.1–18.4 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.7–21.4 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%35–47.5 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12.4–15.5 | 12.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42%38.6–45.6 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%35.1–42.3 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.2%27.6–33 | 27.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.9–13.4 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.3–8.6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.6–9.1 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%9.3–11.3 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.7%21.1–28.7 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.7%18.6–23.2 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.8%31–39.1 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.8–16.4 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.7%38.3–51.2 | 36.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%11.4–15 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%74.5–80.6 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48%44.4–51.7 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.9%80–83.8 | 84.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.1%72.8–77.4 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.7%51.7–61.9 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69%60.9–76.5 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22.6–28.7 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.9%28.6–39.2 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.6%22.7–30.5 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.8%20.9–26.7 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%14.7–19.3 | 14.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.4%11.7–15.1 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.4%11–13.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.8%19.1–24.6 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.8%38.2–45.9 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.9%18.1–22 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.9%18.2–21.9 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.5%9.6–11.6 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%7.3–8.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.9–13.1 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.2–6.1 | 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 McAlester
Is McAlester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, McAlester is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #88 of 131 in Oklahoma. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in McAlester?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 35% and 47.5%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to McAlester?
Mcalester Regional Health Center in Mcalester, 4.1 miles in a straight line from McAlester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in McAlester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.4–15%), 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 McAlester 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 McAlester.
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.