Health · Blackwell
Blackwell, OK health
Blackwell differs from Oklahoma on 14 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (23.9% vs 16.4%) and more adults with COPD (11.4% vs 8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BlackwellTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Blackwell’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Blackwell is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressC-Mental distressDObesityDDiabetesDSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 6%
Less healthyHealthier
Oklahoma towns we grade (237)Healthier than 20%
Towns with similar incomes, $40K–$67K (6,380)Healthier than 10%
About what its income would suggest. Blackwell does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Blackwell 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 Oklahoma 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 Blackwell 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. Blackwell 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 Blackwell compares with Oklahoma
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
44.1% have obesity
0 better4 close8 worse
Habits
35.5% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
77.9% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
32.6% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
21.9% face food insecurity
0 better3 close2 worse
Disability
44.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Blackwell adults…
44 of every 100 Blackwell adults have high blood pressure
Oklahoma: 39 in 100 · worse · margin 39.4–48%
Bars show Blackwell; the black tick is Oklahoma. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Blackwell, betterBlackwell, worseToo close to callOklahoma
Get no exerciseshare of adults
35.5% Blackwell
OK 31.1%
OK 31.1%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
36.8% Blackwell
OK 36.8%
OK 36.8%
Binge drinkshare of adults
13.4% Blackwell
OK 14%
OK 14%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
21.2% Blackwell
OK 16.3%
OK 16.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Blackwell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Yearly checkup
OK 78%Dentist visit
OK 57%Cholesterol check
OK 84%Colon screening
OK 60%Mammogram
OK 70%Taking BP meds
OK 76%1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Blackwell 12.3% · Oklahoma 1 in 9 (11.3%)
Mind & connection
How Blackwell adults are doing
1 in 3Blackwell adults feel lonely
32.6% · Oklahoma 33.1% · too close to call
1 in 4Blackwell adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.5% · Oklahoma 25.5% · too close to call
1 in 4Blackwell adults lack social or emotional support
25% · Oklahoma 25.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Blackwell adults are in frequent mental distress
19.4% · Oklahoma 18% · 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
Blackwell adults worry about having enough food
21.9% · OK 18.5% · worse
1 in 7
Blackwell adults worry about keeping their housing
14.9% · OK 14.1% · about the same
1 in 8
Blackwell adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
11.9% · OK 10.3% · about the same
1 in 9
Blackwell adults lack reliable transportation
11.1% · OK 9.6% · worse
20.6% of Blackwell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Disability
Living with a disability
44.6%
of Blackwell adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs22%
Thinking or memory19.8%
Hearing11.7%
Errands alone12.3%
Vision7.9%
Dressing or bathing5.8%
Black tick: Oklahoma. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Blackwell
1 hospital in Blackwell, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERStillwater Medical-BlackwellBlackwell · 0.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careFairfax Medical FacilitiesPonca City · 13.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
13.8 mi
Fairfax Medical Facilities
4 sites · nearest in Ponca City
Ponca City Family Health CenterPonca City · 13.8 mi
Newkirk Family Health CenterNewkirk · 13.9 mi
Robert Clark Family Health Center (Dba)Fairfax · 36.7 mi
Fairfax Medical Facilities, Inc. - Billing OfficeFairfax · 36.7 mi
22.9 mi
Community Health Center in Cowley County
3 sites · nearest in Arkansas City
Community Health Center in Cowley County - Lincoln ClinicArkansas City · 22.9 mi
Community Health Center in Cowley County - Integrated Care BuildingWinfield · 34.6 mi
Community Health Center in Cowley CountyWinfield · 34.6 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careBlackwell's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Kay County · need score 17 of 25
! Dental careBlackwell's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Kay County · need score 9 of 25
! Mental healthBlackwell's county is a federal shortage area.MHCA 11 - Edwin Fair · need score 17 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 Blackwell. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Blackwell
| Measure | Blackwell | Margin | Oklahoma | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 43.6% | 39.4–48% | 38.5% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 41.3% | 37–45.8% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Obesity | 44.1% | 36.5–52.2% | 38.9% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 33.8% | 30.2–37.4% | 27.8% | worse |
| Depression | 27.5% | 23.7–31.6% | 25.5% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 23.9% | 20–28.3% | 16.4% | worse |
| Asthma | 12.1% | 10.8–13.6% | 11.5% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.3% | 8.4–10.2% | 7.8% | worse |
| Diabetes | 15.6% | 13.5–17.8% | 12.8% | worse |
| COPD | 11.4% | 10–13% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.6% | 8.5–10.6% | 7.3% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4% | 3.7% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.2% | 18.4–24.3% | 16.3% | worse |
| Binge drink | 13.4% | 11–16.3% | 14% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 35.5% | 30.6–40.9% | 31.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.8% | 30.6–44% | 36.8% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.9% | 74.5–81.3% | 77.9% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 50.4% | 46.4–54.6% | 57.1% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83.6% | 81.6–85.6% | 84.3% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 57.1% | 51.4–62.8% | 59.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 66.9% | 58–75.5% | 70.4% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.6% | 75.9–81.1% | 76.3% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 12.3% | 10.3–14.5% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.6% | 27.3–37.9% | 33.1% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 25% | 21.1–29% | 25.2% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.4% | 17.3–21.7% | 18% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 26.3% | 23.1–29.6% | 21.2% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.5% | 15.5–19.7% | 14.3% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 21.9% | 18.7–25.3% | 18.5% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 14.9% | 12.8–17.2% | 14.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 11.9% | 10.2–13.6% | 10.3% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 11.1% | 9.7–12.6% | 9.6% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 20.6% | 17.5–24.1% | 15.1% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.6% | 39.9–49.5% | 38.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 22% | 19.5–24.8% | 17.1% | |
| Thinking or memory | 19.8% | 17.7–22.2% | 17.3% | |
| Hearing | 11.7% | 10.5–13.1% | 9.1% | |
| Vision | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8% | 6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5% | 4.3% | |
| Errands alone | 12.3% | 10.9–13.8% | 9.6% | |
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 Blackwell door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Oklahoma figure falls inside it, we don't call Blackwell better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Blackwell directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oklahoma 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.