Photo: Reservoirhill at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Ponca City is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Ponca City trails Oklahoma on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ponca City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ponca City
Ponca City looks healthier next to Oklahoma than next to the country
It’s healthier than 40% of the 131 Oklahoma towns we grade, but 13% of towns nationwide. Much of Oklahoma scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and cancer run high in Ponca City
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.6%), vs 8% across Oklahoma. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.3%), vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. Cancer is also above the state: 9%, vs 7.8% across Oklahoma. In all, Ponca City runs above Oklahoma on four of 11 chronic conditions. 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 Ponca City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Ponca City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ponca City is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #79 of 131 in Oklahoma. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 23% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Ponca City’s median household income is $55,941; among the 7,715 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), 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 Ponca City is healthier than 40% of graded towns, against 13% nationally.
Out of every 100 Ponca City adults…
Ponca City runs above OK on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ponca City
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Ponca City, 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 Ponca City; ≈ 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.
6.2 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Ponca City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
How Ponca City adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
1 in 3 Ponca City 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.
17.7% of Ponca City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Ponca City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponca City | D | 42.8% | 14% | 18.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ponca City adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ponca City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ponca City is better than Oklahoma on 0 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Ponca City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ponca City | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.4%20.8–26.3 | 21.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.2–17.8 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.7–20.9 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%35.3–50.8 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.3–16 | 12.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.4%37.3–45.7 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.9%35.6–44.2 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.4–35.2 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.8–13.5 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.6%8.7–10.7 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%4–4.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.6%17.1–24.6 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%16.6–21.3 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.1%27.5–37 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.4–16.8 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%30.1–43.5 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.7%10.1–13.3 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%74.4–81.2 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55%51.1–58.9 | 57.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%82.5–86 | 84.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%75–80 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.6%55.2–66.1 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.4%60.8–77.8 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.6%23.1–30.6 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.6%27.5–37.7 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.3–28.9 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.9%17.2–22.5 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.5%12.5–16.5 | 14.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 10.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.7%15.3–20.1 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.6%37.1–46.2 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.4%17.2–21.6 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%16.5–20.4 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.2–7.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.8–12 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.4 | 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 Ponca City
Is Ponca City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ponca City is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: D for health, #79 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 Ponca City?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.3% and 50.8%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ponca City?
Integris Health Ponca City in Ponca City, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Ponca City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ponca City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.1–13.3%), 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 Ponca City 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 Ponca City.
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.