On CDC estimates, Alto is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns
Alto differs from Texas on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alto. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alto
COPD, stroke and arthritis run high in Alto
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.8%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.2%), vs 3.2% across Texas. Arthritis is also above the state: 26.6%, vs 21.6% across Texas. In all, Alto runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Alto
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.7%), vs 19.3% across Texas. Utility shut-off threats (13.6% vs 10.7%) and housing insecurity (19.9% vs 16.4%) are higher too. 19.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
The nearest ER is 22 miles from Alto
The closest emergency room is Christus Mother Frances Hospital- Jacksonville in Jacksonville, 22.4 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Health Opportunities for the People of East Texas is closer (12.6 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Alto, and more people treating it
39% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 77.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. 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 Alto’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Alto’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alto is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 44% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Alto’s median household income is $61,688; among the 9,330 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 32%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Alto adults…
Alto runs above TX on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.6% of Alto adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Care in and near Alto
No hospital or community health center in Alto 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 Alto; ≈ 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 Alto 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Alto 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.
Alto and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alto | C− | 37% | 15.1% | 15.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alto adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alto
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alto is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Alto’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alto | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.8%22.3–29.8 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.4–17.5 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.1–20.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37%28.9–45.6 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.1–17.3 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39%34.6–43.4 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%32.1–41 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.6%23.3–30 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.6–9.1 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.6–14.3 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%13–18.5 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.5%26.5–37 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.5–18.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.8%34.7–49.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.3%14.9–21.9 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%72.3–79.9 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.8%43.9–51.4 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.2–87.3 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.4–80.1 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.4%52–62.6 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%62.4–78.8 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.4%18.9–26.2 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.4%26.6–34.4 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.7%21.5–26 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.9%17.9–22.1 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.6%12–15.2 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%11.3–13.7 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.6%17.6–21.8 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.1%31.4–41 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%15.4–20.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%14.9–19.4 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.7 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.2–8 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%8.9–11.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 4% | 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 Texas figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Alto
Is Alto a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alto is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 32%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alto?
CDC estimates 37% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.9% and 45.6%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alto?
Christus Mother Frances Hospital- Jacksonville in Jacksonville, 22.4 miles in a straight line from Alto’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Alto have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.9–21.9%), 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 Alto more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alto.
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.