Abbott's Mill · Photo: Smallbones · CC0Where Houston residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Houston, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Houston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Houston
Mental distress runs high in Houston
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (19.9%), vs 15.4% across Delaware. Depression is above the state too: 26.3%, vs 21.1% across Delaware. Mind & connection ↓
Dental care lags in Houston
57.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across Delaware. Among those 65 and older, 20.4% have lost all their teeth (Delaware 12.7%). Checkups ↓
More Houston adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.4%), vs 27.2% across Delaware. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Delaware figure falls outside Houston’s likely range.
How Houston adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Houston runs above Delaware.
1 in 3 Houston adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Keeping up with care
Share of Houston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Delaware.
Everyday habits, side by side with Delaware
Share of adults, with the Delaware figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Houston adults…
Houston runs above DE on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Houston is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Delaware. COPD rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Houston as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Houston
No hospital or community health center in Houston 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 Houston; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.7% of Houston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Delaware.
Houston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Houston adults live with a disability (Delaware 30.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Houston
Why doesn’t Houston have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Houston.
What hospital is closest to Houston?
Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus in Milford, 7.8 miles in a straight line from Houston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Houston?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Northern Sussex Community Health Center in Milford, 3.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Houston.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Delaware figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.