Photo: Jakec · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Dallas is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Dallas differs from Pennsylvania on 7 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dallas. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dallas
What’s behind Dallas’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dallas is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #310 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 76% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 55%.
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). Dallas’ median household income is $91,050; among the 9,841 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($68K–$114K), it’s healthier than 69%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Dallas adults…
Dallas runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Dallas
No hospital or community health center in Dallas 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 Dallas; ≈ 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 Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dallas adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How Dallas adults are doing
About the same as Pennsylvania on each measure.
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.
Dallas and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | B+ | 35.6% | 10.8% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Dallas Township | B+ | 35.2% | 10.6% | 14% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dallas adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dallas
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dallas is better than Pennsylvania on 5 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Dallas’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dallas | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.3%14.4–18.3 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.4–14.6 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.1–17.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%29.2–42.6 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.3–12.5 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.9%30.1–37.5 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.8%29.8–37.7 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.4%30.7–38.2 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.2–11.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.2–3.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.6%6–9.4 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.4%11.6–15.4 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22.2%18.6–26 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.7–21.5 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.6%30.6–43 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.8%3.6–6.3 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%76.8–83.4 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69%65.5–72.5 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.7%85.6–89.6 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.1%78–83.8 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.9%66.2–75.3 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%70.7–83.9 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%20.3–27.6 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.9%27–34.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.7%12.1–15.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.8%11.4–14.4 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.9–3.5 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Pennsylvania figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Dallas
Is Dallas a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dallas is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #310 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 69%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dallas?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 42.6%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dallas?
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes Barre, 5.1 miles in a straight line from Dallas’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dallas have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.6–6.3%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
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 Dallas more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dallas.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Pennsylvania 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.