Photo: Jim Bowen · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Albany is healthier than 81%
Albany differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Albany. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Albany
Cancer, arthritis and COPD run high in Albany
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.9%), vs 6.1% across Texas. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (28.8%), vs 21.6% across Texas. COPD is also above the state: 7.4%, vs 5.7% across Texas. In all, Albany runs above Texas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Albany is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Albany is healthier than 62%. Against the 10,337 towns with similar household incomes ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 81%. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 24 miles from Albany
The closest emergency room is Stephens Memorial Hospital in Breckenridge, 23.8 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Shackelford County Community Resource Center is closer (0.5 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Albany is short on primary care and mental health care
Albany’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Albany keeps up with checkups
It beats Texas on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (63% vs 54.6%) and cholesterol checks (88.1% vs 84.6%). Checkups ↓
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 Albany’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
What’s behind Albany’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Albany is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 72% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 45%).
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). Albany’s median household income is $68,000; among the 10,337 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 81%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Albany adults…
Albany runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Albany
1 community health center in Albany, 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 Albany; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Albany adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Albany adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Albany does better than Texas.
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.
9.4% of Albany adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Albany and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | B | 33.5% | 12.4% | 12.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Albany adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Albany
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Albany is better than Texas on 11 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Albany’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Albany | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%15.7–23 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%11.6–16 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.2–18.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.5%25.8–42.1 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.4%10.5–14.5 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%32.7–41.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.4%35.1–43.9 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%25.2–32.3 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.5 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–11 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.2–8.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.4%5.9–9.1 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.5–8.5 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%9.7–15.5 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.4%19.7–29.8 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.6%13.6–19.7 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%26.9–41 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.1%8.8–13.9 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.1%73.2–80.4 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63%59.4–66.6 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%86–89.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%76.5–82 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.6%58.1–68.9 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.3%66.1–81.3 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%20.2–27.5 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.3–28.2 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.5%11–13.8 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.7%9.3–12 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.4–8.2 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.7–8.1 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.4%8.2–10.5 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.6%26.7–37 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%12.3–18 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%11.4–16 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7–9.3 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4–5.6 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%6.6–9.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3–4.4 | 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 Albany
Is Albany a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Albany is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Albany?
CDC estimates 33.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.8% and 42.1%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Albany?
Stephens Memorial Hospital in Breckenridge, 23.8 miles in a straight line from Albany’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Albany have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–13.9%), 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 Albany 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 Albany.
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.