Bizzell Library, University of Oklahoma · Photo: T3h wookiee · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Oklahoma, Norman is healthier than 93% of graded towns
Norman differs from Oklahoma on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Norman. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norman
Norman looks healthier next to Oklahoma than next to the country
It’s healthier than 93% of the 131 Oklahoma towns we grade, but 62% of towns nationwide. Much of Oklahoma scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Norman is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Norman is healthier than 62%. Against the 10,299 towns with similar household incomes ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 81%. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Norman
Norman runs below Oklahoma on six chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (5.4% vs 7.3%), stroke (2.8% vs 3.7%) and diabetes (9.8% vs 12.8%). Conditions ↓
Norman is an active town
Only 25.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 31.1% across Oklahoma. The town has 40 miles of trails across 69 parks and preserves. 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 Norman’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Norman’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norman is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns, #10 of 131 in Oklahoma. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 83% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Norman’s median household income is $67,704; among the 10,299 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 81%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 130,943 residents, Norman is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Norman adults…
Norman runs below OK on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Oklahoma
Share of adults, with the Oklahoma figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 69 parks and preserves
Care in and near Norman
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Norman, 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 Norman; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Norman adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
How Norman adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
1 in 3 Norman 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.
12.8% of Norman adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Norman and the towns around it
Norman has the best Health Grade of the 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman | B | 35.8% | 9.8% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Moore | B− | 37.9% | 10.5% | 14.7% | CDC place |
| Oklahoma City | C+ | 38.3% | 12.6% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Newcastle | B | 37.7% | 10.8% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Noble | C | 38.4% | 12.2% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Slaughterville | D | 41.1% | 13.8% | 19.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Norman adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norman
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norman is better than Oklahoma on 14 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Norman’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norman | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.8%15.8–19.7 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.8–13.5 | 14.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.8–20.7 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.8%31.2–40.4 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.6–11 | 12.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32%29.1–35 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%32.1–38.3 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.7%20.4–24.9 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.8 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.3–7.5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–6 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.2%5.5–6.8 | 8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.7%9.6–14.2 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 25.7%22.5–28.9 | 31.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.7–16.4 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%30.3–39.8 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%8–10.4 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.5%73.2–79.5 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.6%56.2–63 | 57.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.4%79.4–83.3 | 84.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.9%69.3–74.2 | 76.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.9%58.2–67.4 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.9%64.5–78.6 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27%23.8–30.2 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34%29.6–38.6 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.1%19.9–26.5 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.5%14.4–18.7 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.5–13.9 | 14.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%8.1–10.6 | 10.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.4%8.3–10.5 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.8%11.1–14.7 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.9%32.4–39.3 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.6%11.2–14 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.3%15.6–19.1 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.6–5.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8–9.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.5 | 4.3% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Norman
Is Norman a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norman is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #10 of 131 in Oklahoma. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 81%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norman?
CDC estimates 35.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.2% and 40.4%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norman?
Norman Regional in Norman, 9.0 miles in a straight line from Norman’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norman have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–10.4%), 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 Norman more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Norman.
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.