Photo: Cohee · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Houston is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Houston trails Mississippi on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Houston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Houston
Houston is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Houston is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Houston
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (31.7%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Utility shut-off threats (16.4% vs 11.2%) and no reliable transportation (16.7% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 22.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Houston
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.4%), vs 8.6% across Mississippi. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 4.5% across Mississippi. Diabetes is also above the state: 19.1%, vs 15.5% across Mississippi. In all, Houston runs above Mississippi on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Mississippi figure falls outside Houston’s likely range.
What’s behind Houston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Houston is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #85 of 101 in Mississippi. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 17% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 2%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Houston’s median household income is $44,023; among the 3,678 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 12%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.9% of Houston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Out of every 100 Houston adults…
Houston runs above MS on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Houston
2 hospitals in Houston, plus the nearest just outside it.
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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Houston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Houston adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
4 in 10 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.
Houston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | D− | 45.1% | 19.1% | 20.9% | CDC place |
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 (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Houston
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Houston is better than Mississippi on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Houston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Houston | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.9%27.8–36.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.6–20.4 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.7–21.6 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.1%36.5–53.5 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.1%16.7–21.7 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.2%43.5–52.7 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41%36.2–45.6 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.2%29.6–36.9 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.6–12.4 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.9–10.1 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.4%9.8–13.2 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.2%16.7–24.1 | 18.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.9%17.5–24.1 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.9%35–46.7 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.4%9.1–14 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.1%32.1–46.3 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15%12.1–18.3 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.1–84.7 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%82.4–87.1 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%77.9–82.9 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.8%55.3–66.2 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%62.3–79.1 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.2%16.9–23.8 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.4%32.1–42.7 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.5%26.3–34.8 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.7%27.1–36.5 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.9%19.7–26.3 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.4%14.1–18.8 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.7%14.4–19.2 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.9%19.1–26.8 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.4%39.9–50.8 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.9%21.8–28.2 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%18.2–23.9 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.2–10.6 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14%12.1–15.9 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.6%6.6–8.6 | 5.3% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Mississippi figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Houston
Is Houston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Houston is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #85 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 12%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Houston?
CDC estimates 45.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.5% and 53.5%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Houston?
BMH-Calhoun in Calhoun City, 18.0 miles in a straight line from Houston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Houston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.1–18.3%), against 11.5% across Mississippi.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Houston more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Houston.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Mississippi figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. 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.