Photo: Crimsonedge34 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Waurika is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Waurika trails Oklahoma on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waurika. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waurika
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Waurika
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.9%), vs 8% across Oklahoma. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.5%), vs 7.3% across Oklahoma. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. In all, Waurika runs above Oklahoma on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Waurika is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Waurika is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
More Waurika adults get no exercise
37% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 31.1% across Oklahoma. Habits ↓
Waurika is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Waurika is healthier than 10%. Against the 4,321 towns with similar household incomes ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 33%. 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 Waurika’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Waurika’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waurika is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 25% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Waurika’s median household income is $45,882; among the 4,321 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Waurika adults…
Waurika runs above OK on 7 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.
Care in and near Waurika
No hospital or community health center in Waurika 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 Waurika; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Waurika adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
How Waurika adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
1 in 3 Waurika 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.
19.4% of Waurika adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Waurika and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waurika | D | 40.5% | 15.2% | 19.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waurika adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waurika
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waurika is better than Oklahoma on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Waurika’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waurika | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.7%22–30 | 21.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.7–19.4 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.2–21 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.5%32.1–49.6 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.2%13.1–17.5 | 12.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.8%39.5–48.2 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.6%37.1–46.3 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.2%28.8–35.8 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.4–10.8 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.1–13 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.2%15.7–22.8 | 16.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.3%16–22.9 | 16.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37%31.3–43.3 | 31.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13%10.5–15.8 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%29.8–44 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.3%10.7–16.2 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%75.1–82.2 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.7%46.6–54.6 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.3–86.1 | 84.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76.2–81.2 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.5%54–64.7 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.5%59.2–76.9 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22–29.7 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%27.3–38.2 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%20.6–28.7 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.5%17.7–25.7 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%12.5–17.5 | 14.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.3%9.6–13.1 | 10.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.6%9.1–12.3 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.4%15.7–23.6 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.7%38.5–49.3 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.5%18.4–24.7 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%16.5–22.1 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.6%6.7–8.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10–13.5 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.8–6.5 | 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 Waurika
Is Waurika a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waurika is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waurika?
CDC estimates 40.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.1% and 49.6%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waurika?
Jefferson County Hospital in Waurika, 5.2 miles in a straight line from Waurika’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Waurika have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.7–16.2%), 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 Waurika 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 Waurika.
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.