Photo: Crimsonedge34 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Walters is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Walters trails Oklahoma on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Walters. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Walters
Walters is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Walters is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on physical distress, obesity, smoking and exercise. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Walters
51.8% 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 ↓
COPD and stroke run high in Walters
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.3%), vs 8% across Oklahoma. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.5%), vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. In all, Walters runs above Oklahoma on three 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 Walters’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Walters’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walters is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 18% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Walters’ median household income is $54,425; among the 7,241 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Walters adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Out of every 100 Walters adults…
Walters runs above OK on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Walters
No hospital or community health center in Walters itself. These are the nearest.
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 Walters; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Walters adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
1 in 3 Walters 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.
18.8% of Walters adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Walters and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walters | D | 43.4% | 14.7% | 20.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Walters adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Walters
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Walters is better than Oklahoma on 0 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Walters’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Walters | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.5%21–28.5 | 21.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.6–19.3 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%16.9–21.8 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.4%34.5–52.5 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.7%12.7–16.8 | 12.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.2%37.6–46.8 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.6–45 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4%27.9–35.1 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.5%11–14.1 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.5–9.8 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%8.7–12.2 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.6%18.6–26.7 | 16.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.1%16.7–23.9 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.6%28.9–40.6 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%10.9–16.4 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.5%32–46.9 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.1%8.7–13.9 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%74.4–81.8 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.8%47.7–55.6 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.8%81.4–86.1 | 84.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%74.7–80.3 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.3%54.5–65.5 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.1%55.5–73.6 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27%22.9–31.2 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.4%27.9–39.4 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%20.8–29.2 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.2%17.7–25.7 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.1%12.6–18 | 14.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.7%10–13.6 | 10.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.8%15.2–23 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.9%37.4–48.5 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.4%17.6–23.6 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%16.8–22.3 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%9.9–13.3 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.6–6.2 | 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 Walters
Is Walters a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walters is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Walters?
CDC estimates 43.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.5% and 52.5%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Walters?
Southwestern Medical Center in Lawton, 16.4 miles in a straight line from Walters’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Walters have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–13.9%), 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 Walters 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 Walters.
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.