Photo: Clinton Steeds · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Poteau is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Poteau trails Oklahoma on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Poteau. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Poteau
Poteau is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Poteau is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Poteau
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.4%), vs 18.5% across Oklahoma. No reliable transportation (13.2% vs 9.6%) and utility shut-off threats (13.6% vs 10.3%) are higher too. 23.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Poteau
49.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.1% across Oklahoma. Among those 65 and older, 20.2% have lost all their teeth (Oklahoma 16.4%). Checkups ↓
Poteau has a top-rated hospital
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Poteau’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Poteau’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Poteau is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, #101 of 131 in Oklahoma. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 19% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Poteau’s median household income is $50,511; among the 5,969 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 13%, 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 Poteau is healthier than 23% of graded towns, against 6% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.3% of Poteau adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Keeping up with care
Share of Poteau adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Care in and near Poteau
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Poteau, 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 Poteau; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Poteau adults…
Poteau runs above OK on 4 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.
How Poteau adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Poteau runs above Oklahoma.
1 in 3 Poteau 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.
Poteau and the towns around it
Poteau’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poteau | D | 40.3% | 14.6% | 21.9% | CDC place |
| Wister | D | 38.8% | 14.6% | 19.5% | CDC place |
| Shady Point | D | 39.4% | 14.7% | 21.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Poteau adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Poteau
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Poteau is better than Oklahoma on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Poteau’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Poteau | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.2%23.8–30.5 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.4–19.6 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%18.6–23.4 | 18% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.3%32.9–47.7 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.6%12.7–16.5 | 12.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.5%36.4–44.5 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%35.3–43.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.8%26.7–32.9 | 27.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.9–9.7 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.2%17–23.7 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.9%19–24.9 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.6%33.2–43.6 | 31.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11–16.6 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.1%32.1–44.2 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.6%12.4–16.9 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.4%73.6–80.9 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.4%45.8–53.1 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.5%78.1–82.8 | 84.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73.4–78.5 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.6%53.5–63.7 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 64.5%55.9–72.3 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27%23.2–31.1 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%30–41.4 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.1–31.6 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.4%21.8–29.1 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.6%15.1–20.4 | 14.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.6%11.8–15.6 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.2%11.6–15 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.3%19.9–26.9 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.1%40–49.7 | 38.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.3%18.7–23.6 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.7%19.2–24.1 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.6–12 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.3%7.5–9.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%11.3–14.2 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 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 Poteau
Is Poteau a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Poteau is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health, #101 of 131 in Oklahoma. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 13%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Poteau?
CDC estimates 40.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 47.7%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Poteau?
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center in Poteau, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Poteau’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Poteau have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.4–16.9%), 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 Poteau 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 Poteau.
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.