Jenson Tunnel · Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Pocola is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Pocola differs from Oklahoma on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pocola. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pocola
Pocola is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Pocola is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on physical distress, mental distress, smoking and exercise. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Pocola
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), vs 8% across Oklahoma. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.7%), vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.2%, vs 7.3% across Oklahoma. In all, Pocola runs above Oklahoma on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Pocola looks healthier next to Oklahoma than next to the country
It’s healthier than 32% of the 131 Oklahoma towns we grade, but 10% of towns nationwide. Much of Oklahoma scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in Pocola
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.6%), vs 16.3% across Oklahoma. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Pocola, and more people treating it
43.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Oklahoma 38.5%), but 79.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Pocola’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Pocola’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pocola is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #90 of 131 in Oklahoma. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 27% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Pocola’s median household income is $50,545; among the 5,980 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 23%, 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 Pocola is healthier than 32% of graded towns, against 10% nationally.
Out of every 100 Pocola adults…
Pocola runs above OK on 7 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Pocola adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Care in and near Pocola
No hospital or community health center in Pocola 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 Pocola; ≈ 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 Pocola adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
1 in 3 Pocola 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.
17.9% of Pocola adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Pocola and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocola | D | 39.2% | 15% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Arkoma | D− | 42.2% | 16.9% | 25.5% | CDC place |
| Rock Island | — | — | — | — |
Rock Island: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pocola adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pocola
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pocola is better than Oklahoma on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Pocola’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pocola | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.7%21.3–28.3 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%14.8–19.2 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17–21.8 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.2%31.7–46.9 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15%13–17.1 | 12.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.2%38.8–47.5 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.7%37.2–46.1 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.7%29.1–36.1 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.9–14 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10.1 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.2–12.3 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.6%15.5–22.2 | 16.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.6%17.3–23.9 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.3%30.9–41.5 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%10.7–16 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%31–42.9 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%8.4–12.8 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76–82.8 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.7%51.1–58.4 | 57.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%82.1–86.2 | 84.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.4–81.6 | 76.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.2%53.2–63.1 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.1%58.9–74.8 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.9%22–29.9 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.8%28.5–39.6 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.1%22.1–30.6 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.9%16.7–23.5 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.1%12–16.5 | 14.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11%9.5–12.7 | 10.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.5%9.1–12 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.9%15–21.3 | 15.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.2%38.1–48.1 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.3%18.4–23.9 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.2%16.7–21.8 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11%9.8–12.3 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.3–8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%9.9–12.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.6–6 | 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 Pocola
Is Pocola a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pocola is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #90 of 131 in Oklahoma. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 23%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pocola?
CDC estimates 39.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.7% and 46.9%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pocola?
Baptist Health - Fort Smith in Fort Smith, 8.9 miles in a straight line from Pocola’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pocola have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–12.8%), 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 Pocola 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 Pocola.
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.