Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Oklahoma, Tulsa is healthier than 67% of graded towns
Tulsa differs from Oklahoma on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Tulsa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Tulsa
Tulsa looks healthier next to Oklahoma than next to the country
It’s healthier than 67% of the 131 Oklahoma towns we grade, but 26% of towns nationwide. Much of Oklahoma scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Tulsa
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.5%), vs 18.5% across Oklahoma. Utility shut-off threats (13.6% vs 10.3%) and housing insecurity (18% vs 14.1%) are higher too. 20.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Health varies a lot right around Tulsa
Grades next door run from Bixby (A−) to Turley (D−). Tulsa is a C. Around town ↓
Tulsa has nine hospitals within its borders
9 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Tulsa. Saint Francis Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room, one of three five-star hospitals in town. 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 Tulsa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Tulsa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tulsa is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #44 of 131 in Oklahoma. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 43% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Tulsa’s median household income is $59,838; among the 8,870 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Tulsa compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 7.1% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 416,209 residents, Tulsa is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Tulsa
9 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Tulsa.
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 Tulsa; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.8% of Tulsa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Tulsa and the towns around it
Tulsa’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 10 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | C | 37.5% | 12.8% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Fair Oaks | — | — | — | — | |
| Turley | D− | 43% | 19.1% | 24.8% | CDC place |
| Broken Arrow | B+ | 33.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% | CDC place |
| Jenks | A− | 31.8% | 9% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Oakhurst | C− | 38.2% | 13.8% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Sapulpa | C | 38.9% | 12.8% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Bixby | A− | 31.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% | CDC place |
Fair Oaks: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Tulsa adults…
Tulsa runs below OK on 2 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.
160 miles of trails across 112 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Tulsa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
How Tulsa adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
4 in 10 Tulsa 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Tulsa adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Tulsa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Tulsa is better than Oklahoma on 2 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Tulsa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Tulsa | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.4%21.4–25.5 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13.3–16.2 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%17.1–20.7 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.5%33.9–41.5 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11.5–14.3 | 12.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.9%34.3–39.7 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%32.5–38.1 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.1%23.1–27.4 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.5–13 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.5–7.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.4–7.7 | 7.3% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.6–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.3%14.8–20.1 | 16.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14.6–18.1 | 16.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 33.8%31–37 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%11.1–15 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%33.2–40.7 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.4%13–16.2 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.4%73.8–79.2 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.4%52.5–58.4 | 57.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.3%81.6–85 | 84.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%73.6–78.2 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.3%57.3–65.1 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%65.8–77.8 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%24.7–30.3 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.1%32.1–40.2 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%24.1–30.8 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.5%21.2–25.9 | 18.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18%16–20.1 | 14.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.6%12.2–15.2 | 10.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.1%10.9–13.4 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.8%18.8–23 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%37.6–43.7 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.6%16.1–19.3 | 17.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%17–20.4 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.8–9.6 | 9.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.7–7.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.8–11.7 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.6–5.4 | 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 Tulsa
Is Tulsa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tulsa is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #44 of 131 in Oklahoma. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Tulsa?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.9% and 41.5%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Tulsa?
Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, 3.2 miles in a straight line from Tulsa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Tulsa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13–16.2%), 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 Tulsa 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 Tulsa.
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.