Health · Ozark
Ozark, AR health
Ozark differs from Arkansas on 9 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (26.2% vs 18.6%) and more adults with COPD (11.2% vs 8.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for OzarkTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Ozark’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Ozark is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressD-Mental distressCObesityCDiabetesDSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 8%
Less healthyHealthier
Arkansas towns we grade (217)Healthier than 32%
Towns with similar incomes, $36K–$60K (4,596)Healthier than 22%
About what its income would suggest. Ozark does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Ozark 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 Ozark 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. Ozark 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 Ozark 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
39.6% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
35.9% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
77.8% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
35.2% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
20.1% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
43% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Ozark adults…
43 of every 100 Ozark adults have high blood pressure
Arkansas: 41 in 100 · too close to call · margin 38.5–47.1%
Bars show Ozark; the black tick is Arkansas. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Ozark, betterOzark, worseToo close to callArkansas
Get no exerciseshare of adults
35.9% Ozark
AR 32.1%
AR 32.1%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
41.5% Ozark
AR 38.1%
AR 38.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.3% Ozark
AR 14.6%
AR 14.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
19.9% Ozark
AR 15.8%
AR 15.8%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Ozark 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 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Ozark 12.2% · Arkansas 1 in 9 (11.3%)
Mind & connection
How Ozark adults are doing
1 in 3Ozark adults feel lonely
35.2% · Arkansas 34.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Ozark adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.2% · Arkansas 24.6% · too close to call
1 in 4Ozark adults lack social or emotional support
27% · Arkansas 27% · too close to call
1 in 5Ozark adults are in frequent mental distress
21.1% · 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
Ozark adults worry about having enough food
20.1% · AR 18.5% · about the same
1 in 7
Ozark adults worry about keeping their housing
14.8% · AR 14.4% · about the same
1 in 9
Ozark adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10.9% · AR 10.4% · about the same
1 in 9
Ozark adults lack reliable transportation
10.6% · AR 9.7% · about the same
13.4% of Ozark adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Disability
Living with a disability
43%
of Ozark adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs20.6%
Thinking or memory21.4%
Hearing10.5%
Errands alone12.2%
Vision7.3%
Dressing or bathing5.4%
Black tick: Arkansas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Ozark
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Ozark, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERMercy Hospital OzarkOzark · 1.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careArcare - 169Ozark · 1.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
11.4 mi
River Valley Primary Care Services
7 sites · nearest in Mulberry
Mulberry Community PharmacyMulberry · 11.4 mi
Rvpcs - Coal Hill Family ClinicCoal Hill · 11.5 mi
Mulberry Family ClinicMulberry · 11.5 mi
Rvpcs Dental Clinic and Training CenterMulberry · 11.5 mi
River Valley Primary Care ServicesRatcliff · 13.7 mi
Rvpcs Mountainburg Family ClinicMountainburg · 20.1 mi
Mountainburg Family ClinicMountainburg · 20.2 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careOzark's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Franklin County · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careOzark's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Franklin County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthOzark's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.MHCA-Fort Smith · 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 Ozark. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Ozark
| Measure | Ozark | Margin | Arkansas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 42.8% | 38.5–47.1% | 41.4% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 40% | 35.5–44.2% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 39.6% | 31.6–47.7% | 39.3% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 32.7% | 29.1–36.2% | 28.5% | worse |
| Depression | 28.2% | 24.2–32.3% | 24.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 26.2% | 21.8–30.5% | 18.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.1% | 9.7–12.5% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.1% | 8.2–10% | 8.2% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 14% | 12.1–16.1% | 13.3% | about the same |
| COPD | 11.2% | 9.5–13% | 8.6% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.1% | 8.1–10.3% | 7.7% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3% | 4% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9% | 16.5–23.3% | 15.8% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.3% | 11.6–17.2% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 35.9% | 30.1–41.7% | 32.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.5% | 34.6–48.3% | 38.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.8% | 74–81.3% | 79% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 43.9% | 39.9–47.6% | 54.7% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 82.9% | 80.3–85.7% | 84.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 60.4% | 54.9–65.4% | 61.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 65.9% | 56.6–74.1% | 71.4% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.3% | 74.6–79.8% | 76.9% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | 9.6–15.2% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35.2% | 29.8–41.1% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 27% | 22.9–31.4% | 27% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 21.1% | 18.5–23.6% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 28.6% | 24.5–32.7% | 24.4% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.5% | 16.1–21% | 15.6% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 20.1% | 16.6–23.9% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 14.8% | 12.5–17.5% | 14.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 10.9% | 9.4–12.7% | 10.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 10.6% | 9.1–12.3% | 9.7% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 13.4% | 10.8–16.4% | 11.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43% | 37.5–48.2% | 38.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 20.6% | 17.7–23.6% | 17.6% | |
| Thinking or memory | 21.4% | 18.5–24.3% | 18.2% | |
| Hearing | 10.5% | 9.3–11.9% | 8.6% | |
| Vision | 7.3% | 6.3–8.3% | 6.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.4% | 4.7–6.2% | 4.6% | |
| Errands alone | 12.2% | 10.5–14% | 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 Ozark door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Arkansas figure falls inside it, we don't call Ozark better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Ozark 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.