Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0Sallisaw’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Sallisaw trails Oklahoma on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sallisaw. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sallisaw
Sallisaw is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Sallisaw is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Sallisaw
1 in 8 adults have COPD (13.3%), vs 8% across Oklahoma. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.7%), vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.4%, vs 7.3% across Oklahoma. In all, Sallisaw runs above Oklahoma on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Sallisaw
46.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.1% across Oklahoma. Among those 65 and older, 29.5% have lost all their teeth (Oklahoma 16.4%). 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 Sallisaw’s likely range.
What’s behind Sallisaw’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sallisaw is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #127 of 131 in Oklahoma. All seven of Sallisaw’s estimates fall in the lowest 6% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 48.4% of adults, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
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). Sallisaw’s median household income is $48,036; among the 5,031 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 2%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Sallisaw adults…
Sallisaw runs above OK on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sallisaw adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Care in and near Sallisaw
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Sallisaw, 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 Sallisaw; ≈ 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.
0.9 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Sallisaw adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Sallisaw runs above Oklahoma.
1 in 3 Sallisaw 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.
29.4% of Sallisaw adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Sallisaw and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sallisaw | D− | 48.4% | 17.5% | 25.1% | CDC place |
| Badger Lee | — | — | — | — |
Badger Lee: 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 Sallisaw adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sallisaw
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sallisaw is better than Oklahoma on 0 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Sallisaw’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sallisaw | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.1%27.8–34.6 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.8–22.4 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.7%19.4–24.2 | 18% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 48.4%40.9–55.8 | 38.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.5%15.4–19.8 | 12.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.5%41.2–49.6 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.1%36.7–45.3 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.9%30.4–37.3 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.5%12–15.2 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%7.9–9.6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.3%11.9–14.8 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 29.5%25.3–34.1 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.1%22.1–28.3 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.2%35.2–45.4 | 31.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10.2–15.1 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8%31.1–44.7 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.5%12.5–16.9 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.4–82.2 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.6%42.9–50.4 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.4%79.2–83.4 | 84.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.7–79.9 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.8%48.2–59.4 | 59.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 63.4%54.1–72.3 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.1%24.2–32.1 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%29.3–39.8 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.4%23.5–31.5 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.1%26.6–33.5 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.1%17.6–22.7 | 14.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.6%14.6–18.6 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.9%14.2–17.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 29.4%26.1–32.9 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50.3%45.7–55 | 38.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.5%22.8–28.3 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.3%20.9–25.8 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 13%11.7–14.5 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.5%9.6–11.5 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.3%13.7–17 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 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 Sallisaw
Is Sallisaw a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sallisaw is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #127 of 131 in Oklahoma. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 2%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sallisaw?
CDC estimates 48.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.9% and 55.8%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sallisaw?
Sequoyah County-City of Sallisaw Hospital Authorit in Sallisaw, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Sallisaw’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Sallisaw have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.5–16.9%), 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 Sallisaw more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sallisaw.
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.