Reader, AR health
Reader differs from Arkansas on 14 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (11.1% vs 14.6%) and more adults screened for colon cancer (67.4% vs 61.6%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had a stroke (5.8% vs 4%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 71726, 71857Not graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 43 people are less certain, so we show Reader's figures without a grade.
How Reader 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Reader adults…
Bars show Reader; the black tick is Arkansas. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
AR 32.1%
AR 38.1%
AR 14.6%
AR 15.8%
Keeping up with care
Share of Reader adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
How Reader adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.9% of Reader adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Living with a disability
of Reader adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: Arkansas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Reader
No hospital or community health center in Reader 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 Reader. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Reader
| Measure | Reader | Margin | Arkansas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 52.5% | 48.2–56.9% | 41.4% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 44.3% | 39.8–49% | 38% | worse |
| Obesity | 41.9% | 34.4–49.7% | 39.3% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 36.3% | 32.6–40% | 28.5% | worse |
| Depression | 22.1% | 18.9–25.7% | 24.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 19.3% | 16.1–22.9% | 18.6% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.5% | 9.4–11.9% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.3% | 9.3–11.4% | 8.2% | worse |
| Diabetes | 18.8% | 16.5–21.2% | 13.3% | worse |
| COPD | 10.9% | 9.3–12.4% | 8.6% | worse |
| Heart disease | 10.7% | 9.5–11.9% | 7.7% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4% | 4% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7% | 14.3–19.5% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 11.1% | 9–13.5% | 14.6% | better |
| Get no exercise | 36.6% | 31.6–42.2% | 32.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6% | 33.2–46.5% | 38.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 83.6% | 80.8–86.4% | 79% | better |
| Dentist visit | 54.3% | 50.6–58.2% | 54.7% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 88.6% | 86.9–90.1% | 84.8% | better |
| Colon screening | 67.4% | 62.4–72.2% | 61.6% | better |
| Mammogram | 71.8% | 63.6–79.2% | 71.4% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 83.4% | 81–85.6% | 76.9% | better |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 8.3–11.7% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.1% | 28.4–38.2% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 27.7% | 23.9–31.8% | 27% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17% | 15.1–19.1% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 28.3% | 24.9–32% | 24.4% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.6% | 15.5–19.9% | 15.6% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 20.1% | 17.2–23.3% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 14.7% | 12.6–16.9% | 14.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 11.5% | 10.1–13.1% | 10.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5% | 9.7% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 13.9% | 11.7–16.3% | 11.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.8% | 38.2–47.8% | 38.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 23.4% | 20.5–26.4% | 17.6% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.1% | 15.2–19.3% | 18.2% | |
| Hearing | 10.4% | 9.3–11.7% | 8.6% | |
| Vision | 7.6% | 6.8–8.6% | 6.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8% | 4.6% | |
| Errands alone | 11.1% | 9.7–12.5% | 10% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.