Photo: Caleb Long · CC BY-SA 2.5Within Oklahoma, Tahlequah is healthier than 49% of graded towns
Tahlequah differs from Oklahoma on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Tahlequah. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Tahlequah
Tahlequah looks healthier next to Oklahoma than next to the country
It’s healthier than 49% of the 131 Oklahoma towns we grade, but 17% of towns nationwide. Much of Oklahoma scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Tahlequah
51.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.1% across Oklahoma. Among those 65 and older, 22.6% have lost all their teeth (Oklahoma 16.4%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Tahlequah
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.4%), vs 18.5% across Oklahoma. No reliable transportation (13.5% vs 9.6%) and utility shut-off threats (12.9% vs 10.3%) are higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Tahlequah is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Tahlequah is healthier than 17%. Against the 5,635 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 42%. Health Grade ↓
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 Tahlequah’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Tahlequah’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tahlequah is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #67 of 131 in Oklahoma. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 44% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Tahlequah’s median household income is $49,581; among the 5,635 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Tahlequah compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Tahlequah adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.3% of Tahlequah adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Out of every 100 Tahlequah adults…
Tahlequah runs below OK on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Tahlequah
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Tahlequah, 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 Tahlequah; ≈ 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.
8 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How Tahlequah adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Tahlequah runs above Oklahoma.
4 in 10 Tahlequah 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.
Tahlequah and the towns around it
Tahlequah’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Tahlequah adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Tahlequah
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Tahlequah is better than Oklahoma on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Tahlequah’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Tahlequah | 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) | 15.4%13.8–17.3 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%18.9–23.4 | 18% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.9%35.3–49.8 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%11–14.2 | 12.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.5%33–40.7 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%30.4–38 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.5%22.9–28.4 | 27.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.1%11.7–14.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%6–7.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.7 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.2%7.3–9.1 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.6%18.9–26.5 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%15.8–20.5 | 16.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.5%26.4–35.3 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12.1–17.8 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.5%34.8–48.3 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.3%9.7–13.1 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%73.5–80.5 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.4%47.5–55.1 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80%77.7–82.3 | 84.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%71–75.6 | 76.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.7%53.2–63.9 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.2%56.1–73.3 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%23.1–30.7 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36%30.6–41.7 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.4%22.6–30.6 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.4%20.2–26.6 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.9%14.7–19.4 | 14.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.9%11.2–14.8 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.5%11.9–15.3 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.3%16.7–22.3 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.9%37.7–46.7 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17%15.2–19.2 | 17.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.8%18.8–23.1 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.4–10.4 | 9.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.7–8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.5%10.4–12.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.2–5 | 4.3% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Tahlequah
Is Tahlequah a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tahlequah is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #67 of 131 in Oklahoma. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Tahlequah?
CDC estimates 41.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.3% and 49.8%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Tahlequah?
Northeastern Health System in Tahlequah, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Tahlequah’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Tahlequah have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–13.1%), 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 Tahlequah more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Tahlequah.
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.