Health · Waldron
Waldron, AR health
On most measures Waldron looks like Arkansas as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (25.8% vs 18.6%) and more uninsured adults (15.1% vs 11.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WaldronTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Waldron’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Waldron is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, and than 72% of towns with similar incomes.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressB-ObesityCDiabetesC-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 12%
Less healthyHealthier
Arkansas towns we grade (217)Healthier than 47%
Towns with similar incomes, $25K–$42K (997)Healthier than 72%
Better than its income would suggest. Waldron 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, Waldron 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 Waldron 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. Waldron 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 Waldron 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
36.8% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
37.8% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
77.1% had a checkup
0 better4 close3 worse
Mind & connection
36.5% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
21.1% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
44.5% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Waldron adults…
41 of every 100 Waldron adults have high blood pressure
Arkansas: 41 in 100 · too close to call · margin 36.6–45.5%
Bars show Waldron; the black tick is Arkansas. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Waldron, betterWaldron, worseToo close to callArkansas
Get no exerciseshare of adults
37.8% Waldron
AR 32.1%
AR 32.1%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
37.4% Waldron
AR 38.1%
AR 38.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.9% Waldron
AR 14.6%
AR 14.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18.4% Waldron
AR 15.8%
AR 15.8%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Waldron 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 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
Waldron 15.1% · Arkansas 1 in 9 (11.3%)
Mind & connection
How Waldron adults are doing
1 in 3Waldron adults feel lonely
36.5% · Arkansas 34.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Waldron adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.8% · Arkansas 24.6% · too close to call
1 in 3Waldron adults lack social or emotional support
28.6% · Arkansas 27% · too close to call
1 in 5Waldron adults are in frequent mental distress
20.1% · 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
Waldron adults worry about having enough food
21.1% · AR 18.5% · about the same
1 in 6
Waldron adults worry about keeping their housing
15.4% · AR 14.4% · about the same
1 in 9
Waldron adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10.6% · AR 10.4% · about the same
1 in 9
Waldron adults lack reliable transportation
10.8% · AR 9.7% · about the same
13% of Waldron adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Disability
Living with a disability
44.5%
of Waldron adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs20.1%
Thinking or memory21.5%
Hearing10.3%
Errands alone11.9%
Vision7.3%
Dressing or bathing5.2%
Black tick: Arkansas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Waldron
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Waldron, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERMercy Hospital WaldronWaldron · 0.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careRiver Valley Primary Care ServicesWaldron · 1.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.1 mi
River Valley Primary Care Services
4 sites · nearest in Waldron
Waldron Family ClinicWaldron · 1.1 mi
Bonanza Wellness CenterBonanza · 29.1 mi
River Valley Primary Care ServicesRatcliff · 30.4 mi
Eastside Family ClinicFort Smith · 33.4 mi
22.4 mi
Healthy Connections
3 sites · nearest in Mena
Healthy ConnectionsMena · 22.4 mi
Healthy Connections, Inc. Mena Street ClinicMena · 23.7 mi
Montgomery County Community ClinicMount Ida · 35.5 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careWaldron's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Scott County · need score 10 of 25
! Dental careWaldron's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Scott County · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthWaldron'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 Waldron. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Waldron
| Measure | Waldron | Margin | Arkansas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 41.1% | 36.6–45.5% | 41.4% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 38.9% | 34.3–43.5% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.8% | 28.6–45.5% | 39.3% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 30.1% | 26.7–33.6% | 28.5% | about the same |
| Depression | 25.8% | 22–30.1% | 24.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 25.8% | 21.4–30.4% | 18.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5% | 8.2% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8% | 11.8–15.9% | 13.3% | about the same |
| COPD | 10.2% | 8.6–11.9% | 8.6% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 8.7% | 7.6–9.8% | 7.7% | about the same |
| Stroke | 4.4% | 3.9–5% | 4% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.4% | 15.3–21.7% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 14.9% | 12.1–18% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 37.8% | 31.8–43.6% | 32.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4% | 30.5–44.7% | 38.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.1% | 73.3–80.6% | 79% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 50.4% | 46.5–54.3% | 54.7% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 81.9% | 79.3–84.4% | 84.8% | worse |
| Colon screening | 60.4% | 55–65.6% | 61.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 65.1% | 55.6–73.8% | 71.4% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.5% | 73.7–79.1% | 76.9% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 15.1% | 12.3–18.5% | 11.3% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 36.5% | 31–42.3% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 28.6% | 24.4–33.2% | 27% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 20.1% | 17.5–22.5% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 28.3% | 24.2–32.7% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.8% | 15.4–20.3% | 15.6% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 21.1% | 17.5–25.3% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 15.4% | 13–18.2% | 14.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 10.6% | 9–12.3% | 10.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 10.8% | 9.2–12.6% | 9.7% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 13% | 10.5–16% | 11.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.5% | 38.8–50% | 38.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 20.1% | 17.2–23.2% | 17.6% | |
| Thinking or memory | 21.5% | 18.5–24.5% | 18.2% | |
| Hearing | 10.3% | 9–11.6% | 8.6% | |
| Vision | 7.3% | 6.4–8.4% | 6.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.2% | 4.4–6% | 4.6% | |
| Errands alone | 11.9% | 10.1–13.7% | 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 Waldron door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Arkansas figure falls inside it, we don't call Waldron better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Waldron 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.