Health · Alma
Alma, AR health
On most measures Alma looks like Arkansas as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (25.2% vs 18.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for AlmaTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C−
Alma’s Health Grade: C−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Alma is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns and 65% of Arkansas towns.
C-Self-rated healthC-Physical distressDMental distressCObesityB-DiabetesC-SmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 19%
Less healthyHealthier
Arkansas towns we grade (217)Healthier than 65%
Towns with similar incomes, $51K–$86K (9,500)Healthier than 18%
About what its income would suggest. Alma does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Alma could be anywhere from D− to B−.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Arkansas ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Alma with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Alma uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Alma compares with Arkansas
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
39.2% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
30.6% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
77.6% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
34.4% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
18.2% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
40.2% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Alma adults…
40 of every 100 Alma adults have high blood pressure
Arkansas: 41 in 100 · too close to call · margin 36.2–44.9%
Bars show Alma; the black tick is Arkansas. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Alma, betterAlma, worseToo close to callArkansas
Get no exerciseshare of adults
30.6% Alma
AR 32.1%
AR 32.1%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
38.8% Alma
AR 38.1%
AR 38.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.4% Alma
AR 14.6%
AR 14.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.3% Alma
AR 15.8%
AR 15.8%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Alma adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Yearly checkup
AR 79%Dentist visit
AR 55%Cholesterol check
AR 85%Colon screening
AR 62%Mammogram
AR 71%Taking BP meds
AR 77%1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Alma 10.4% · Arkansas 1 in 9 (11.3%)
Mind & connection
How Alma adults are doing
1 in 3Alma adults feel lonely
34.4% · Arkansas 34.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Alma adults have been diagnosed with depression
28% · Arkansas 24.6% · too close to call
1 in 4Alma adults lack social or emotional support
26.5% · Arkansas 27% · too close to call
1 in 5Alma adults are in frequent mental distress
20.5% · Arkansas 18.5% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 5
Alma adults worry about having enough food
18.2% · AR 18.5% · about the same
1 in 7
Alma adults worry about keeping their housing
13.8% · AR 14.4% · about the same
1 in 10
Alma adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10.3% · AR 10.4% · about the same
1 in 10
Alma adults lack reliable transportation
9.7% · AR 9.7% · about the same
11.6% of Alma adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Disability
Living with a disability
40.2%
of Alma adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs17.8%
Thinking or memory20%
Hearing8.9%
Errands alone10.6%
Vision6.1%
Dressing or bathing4.6%
Black tick: Arkansas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Around Alma
Alma and the towns around it
Care nearby
Baptist Health - Van BurenVan Buren · 8.1 mi · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Mercy Hospital Fort SmithFort Smith · 12.4 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Baptist Health - Fort SmithFort Smith · 14.3 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Mercy Hospital OzarkOzark · 21.3 mi · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Mulberry Family ClinicMulberry · 9 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
! Primary careAlma's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Crawford County · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careAlma's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Crawford County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthAlma's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.MHCA-Fort Smith · need score 18 of 25
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Alma. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Alma
| Measure | Alma | Margin | Arkansas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.4% | 36.2–44.9% | 41.4% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 38.9% | 34.8–43.4% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 39.2% | 32–47% | 39.3% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 29% | 25.8–32.4% | 28.5% | about the same |
| Depression | 28% | 24.1–32.3% | 24.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 25.2% | 21.1–29.5% | 18.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.8% | 9.5–12.3% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.3% | 7.5–9.3% | 8.2% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 12.1% | 10.4–14% | 13.3% | about the same |
| COPD | 9.2% | 7.9–10.6% | 8.6% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6% | 7.7% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4% | 4% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.3% | 14.3–20.5% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.4% | 12.6–18.7% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 30.6% | 25.5–35.8% | 32.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8% | 32.8–45.2% | 38.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.6% | 73.8–81.2% | 79% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 53.3% | 49.5–57.1% | 54.7% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 83.3% | 80.7–85.7% | 84.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 59.9% | 54.6–65% | 61.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 67.8% | 59.5–75.5% | 71.4% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 74.5% | 71.4–77.3% | 76.9% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 8.4–13% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 34.4% | 29.3–39.6% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 26.5% | 22.5–30.7% | 27% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 20.5% | 18–23.3% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 24.6% | 21.1–28.2% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 16.5% | 14.4–18.7% | 15.6% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 18.2% | 14.8–21.7% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 13.8% | 11.5–16.3% | 14.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 10.3% | 8.7–11.9% | 10.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 9.7% | 8.3–11.3% | 9.7% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11.6% | 9.1–14.3% | 11.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.2% | 35.1–45.3% | 38.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 17.8% | 15.3–20.4% | 17.6% | |
| Thinking or memory | 20% | 17.3–22.8% | 18.2% | |
| Hearing | 8.9% | 7.8–10% | 8.6% | |
| Vision | 6.1% | 5.4–7% | 6.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.6% | 4–5.2% | 4.6% | |
| Errands alone | 10.6% | 9.2–12.3% | 10% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Alma door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Arkansas figure falls inside it, we don't call Alma better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Alma directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Arkansas figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.