Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Wister is healthier than 66%
Wister differs from Oklahoma on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wister. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wister
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Wister
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.1%), vs 8% across Oklahoma. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. Heart disease is also above the state: 9%, vs 7.3% across Oklahoma. In all, Wister runs above Oklahoma on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Wister is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Wister is healthier than 13%. Against the 1,542 towns with similar household incomes ($27K–$46K), it’s healthier than 66%. 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 Wister’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Wister’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wister is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 30% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Wister’s median household income is $36,607; among the 1,542 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$46K), it’s healthier than 66%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Wister adults…
Wister runs above OK on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wister
No hospital or community health center in Wister 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 Wister; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wister adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
How Wister adults are doing
About the same as Oklahoma on each measure.
1 in 3 Wister 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.
16.7% of Wister adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Wister and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wister adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wister
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wister is better than Oklahoma on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Oklahoma figure falls inside Wister’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wister | OK | U.S. | vs OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.2–27.3 | 21.2% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.4–18.9 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.7–21.3 | 18% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%31.7–46.5 | 38.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.6%12.7–16.8 | 12.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.2%38–46.6 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%36.9–45.9 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%29–36.1 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–14 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%7.9–10.2 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.1%8.5–11.8 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4–5.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.2%15.9–22.7 | 16.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.5%16.4–22.8 | 16.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35.2%29.7–40.8 | 31.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%10.6–16 | 14% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.6%31.6–43.6 | 36.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.4%8.5–12.7 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%76.1–83 | 77.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.1%48.5–55.8 | 57.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%82.7–87.1 | 84.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.4–81.6 | 76.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.2%56–66.3 | 59.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.7%57.2–73.7 | 70.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%22.1–29.9 | 25.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%27.5–38.8 | 33.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.3%21.1–29.5 | 25.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.1%15.3–22.5 | 18.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%11.4–16 | 14.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%8.9–12.3 | 10.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.5–11.5 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.7%13.3–19.8 | 15.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.1%37.1–47.4 | 38.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.5%17.7–23.5 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%16–20.8 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11%9.7–12.4 | 9.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6–7.8 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.8%9.3–12.4 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.3–5.7 | 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 Wister
Is Wister a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wister is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wister?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.7% and 46.5%, against 38.9% across Oklahoma and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wister?
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center in Poteau, 8.0 miles in a straight line from Wister’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wister have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–12.7%), 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 Wister 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 Wister.
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.