Health · Newark

Newark, AR health

Newark differs from Arkansas on 6 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (11.2% vs 8.6%) and more smokers (20.3% vs 15.8%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Newark
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Newark’s Health Grade: D

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, and than 28% of towns with similar incomes.

DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressD-Mental distressDObesityCDiabetesDSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 5%
Less healthyHealthier
Arkansas towns we grade (217)Healthier than 21%
Towns with similar incomes, $30K–$51K (2,357)Healthier than 28%

Better than its income would suggest. Newark is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Newark could be anywhere from D− to C.
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 Newark 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. Newark 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 Newark 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

Out of every 100 Newark adults…

42 of every 100 Newark adults have high blood pressure
Arkansas: 41 in 100 · too close to call · margin 38–46.4%

Bars show Newark; the black tick is Arkansas. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Newark, betterNewark, worseToo close to callArkansas
Get no exerciseshare of adults 37.8% Newark
AR 32.1%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 40% Newark
AR 38.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults 14.5% Newark
AR 14.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 20.3% Newark
AR 15.8%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Newark adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.

78%
Yearly checkup
AR 79%
52%
Dentist visit
AR 55%
83%
Cholesterol check
AR 85%
60%
Colon screening
AR 62%
68%
Mammogram
AR 71%
77%
Taking BP meds
AR 77%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Newark 11.8% · Arkansas 1 in 9 (11.3%)
Mind & connection

How Newark adults are doing

1 in 3Newark adults feel lonely
35.1% · Arkansas 34.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Newark adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.3% · Arkansas 24.6% · too close to call
1 in 4Newark adults lack social or emotional support
27.5% · Arkansas 27% · too close to call
1 in 5Newark adults are in frequent mental distress
21.2% · Arkansas 18.5% · worse
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
Newark adults worry about having enough food
21.4% · AR 18.5% · about the same
1 in 7
Newark adults worry about keeping their housing
15.2% · AR 14.4% · about the same
1 in 9
Newark adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
11.5% · AR 10.4% · about the same
1 in 9
Newark adults lack reliable transportation
10.9% · AR 9.7% · about the same

14.7% of Newark adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.

Disability

Living with a disability

42.9%

of Newark adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20.3%
Thinking or memory21.6%
Hearing9.8%
Errands alone12.2%
Vision7.1%
Dressing or bathing5.5%

Black tick: Arkansas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Getting care

Care in and near Newark

No hospital or community health center in Newark itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERWhite River Medical CenterBatesville · 11.5 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyBaptist Health Medical Center Heber Springs★★★★★ · 35.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careArcareCharlotte · 8.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
8.5 mi
Arcare
8 sites · nearest in Charlotte
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
11.5 mi
White River Medical Center
Batesville · ★★★★★
ER
12.1 mi
Unity Health - Newport
Newport · not rated
ERRural critical access
34.7 mi
White County Medical Center
Searcy · ★★★★★
ER
35.4 mi
Baptist Health Medical Center Heber Springs
Heber Springs · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
! Primary careNewark's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Independence County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careNewark's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Independence County · need score 14 of 25
! Mental healthNewark's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.MHCA- Batesville · need score 18 of 25

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 Newark. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Newark
MeasureNewarkMarginArkansas
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure42.2%38–46.4%41.4%about the same
High cholesterol40.4%36.1–44.8%38%about the same
Obesity43.8%36–51.8%39.3%about the same
Arthritis31.8%28.3–35.2%28.5%about the same
Depression28.3%24.4–32.6%24.6%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)22.6%19–26.8%18.6%worse
Asthma11.2%9.8–12.7%10.3%about the same
Cancer (not skin)8.6%7.6–9.5%8.2%about the same
Diabetes14%12.1–16.1%13.3%about the same
COPD11.2%9.6–13.1%8.6%worse
Heart disease8.7%7.6–9.9%7.7%about the same
Stroke4.5%3.9–5%4%about the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes20.3%17–24.1%15.8%worse
Binge drink14.5%11.7–17.7%14.6%about the same
Get no exercise37.8%32.6–44.2%32.1%worse
Sleep under 7 hours40%34–46.5%38.1%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup78.4%74.3–81.9%79%about the same
Dentist visit52.2%48.5–56%54.7%about the same
Cholesterol check82.6%79.7–85.3%84.8%about the same
Colon screening59.5%54.3–64.9%61.6%about the same
Mammogram68.2%59.7–76.1%71.4%about the same
Taking BP meds76.9%73.8–79.7%76.9%about the same
No health insurance11.8%9.3–15.1%11.3%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely35.1%30.2–41.1%34.2%about the same
Lack emotional support27.5%23.6–32.2%27%about the same
Frequent mental distress21.2%18.8–24%18.5%worse
Fair or poor health28%24.1–32.7%24.4%about the same
Frequent physical distress18.3%16–21%15.6%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity21.4%17.6–25.8%18.5%about the same
Housing insecurity15.2%12.7–18%14.4%about the same
Utility shut-off threat11.5%9.8–13.4%10.4%about the same
No reliable transportation10.9%9.3–12.7%9.7%about the same
Receive SNAP14.7%11.7–18.2%11.6%
Disability
Any disability42.9%37.9–48.7%38.2%
Walking or climbing stairs20.3%17.5–23.6%17.6%
Thinking or memory21.6%18.7–24.8%18.2%
Hearing9.8%8.7–11.1%8.6%
Vision7.1%6.2–8.2%6.2%
Dressing or bathing5.5%4.7–6.4%4.6%
Errands alone12.2%10.5–14.1%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 Newark door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Arkansas figure falls inside it, we don't call Newark better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Newark 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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01