Photo: Atownbman · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Abilene is healthier than 65%
Abilene trails Texas on 2 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Abilene. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Abilene
COPD runs high in Abilene
1 in 15 adults have COPD (6.6%), vs 5.7% across Texas. Conditions ↓
Abilene is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Abilene is healthier than 44%. Against the 9,535 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 65%. Health Grade ↓
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 Texas figure falls outside Abilene’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Abilene’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Abilene is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #259 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 59% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Abilene’s median household income is $62,648; among the 9,535 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 65%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Texas towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Abilene is healthier than 60% of graded towns, against 44% nationally.
At 131,588 residents, Abilene is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Abilene adults…
Abilene runs above TX on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Abilene
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Abilene, 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 Abilene; ≈ 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 Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
53 miles of trails across 37 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Abilene adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Abilene adults are doing
About the same as Texas 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.
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 Abilene adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Abilene and the towns around it
Abilene’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Abilene adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Abilene
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Abilene is better than Texas on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Abilene’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Abilene | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%19.6–24.3 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12.2–15.2 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.9–20.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.3%28.3–42.8 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.4–13.4 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.5%29.9–37.2 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.7%30.9–38.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.7%20.2–25.4 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.3 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6.1–7.3 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.6%6–7.3 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.3%3.1–3.5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.7–17.1 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.9%12.2–15.6 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.5%23.7–31.7 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18%15.1–21.1 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%31.5–44.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.5%15.7–19.3 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.7%68.9–76.2 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.3%48.5–55.8 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.6%80.8–84.3 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%70.7–75.7 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%54.5–64.8 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.6%64.2–79.7 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20.1–26.7 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28%24.5–31.3 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.2%17.4–20.8 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16%14.4–17.5 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.9%9.7–12 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%10–11.9 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.7%14.2–17.2 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.5%28.8–36.5 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.2%12.7–15.9 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%15.1–18.4 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.6–6.5 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.4–10.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.8–4.5 | 4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Texas figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Abilene
Is Abilene a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Abilene is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #259 of 641 in Texas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Abilene?
CDC estimates 35.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.3% and 42.8%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Abilene?
Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Abilene’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Abilene have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.7–19.3%), against 19.1% across Texas.
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 Abilene more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Abilene.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Texas 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.