On CDC estimates, Alton is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Alton differs from Texas on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alton
Dental care lags in Alton
37.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 19.5% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Alton
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (41.5%), about twice the Texas rate. No reliable transportation (20.4% vs 10.5%) and housing insecurity (31.5% vs 16.4%) are higher too. 36.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
2 in 5 working-age adults in Alton have no health insurance
41.5% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 19.1% across Texas. 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 Alton’s likely range.
What’s behind Alton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alton is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #567 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 53% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Alton’s median household income is $52,715; among the 6,698 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Alton compares well: arthritis, 18.6% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 3.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Alton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
36.4% of Alton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Out of every 100 Alton adults…
Alton runs below TX on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Alton residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Alton
1 community health center in Alton, 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 Alton; ≈ 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.
1.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Alton adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Alton runs above 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.
Alton and the towns around it
Alton’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton | D | 45.8% | 17.1% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| West Sharyland | D | 45% | 19% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| McAllen | C | 41.8% | 16.5% | 11.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alton adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alton
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alton is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Alton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alton | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 36.3%32.7–40 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.5–19.4 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.6–21.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.8%41.2–50.4 | 35.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.1%15.4–19 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 31.8%29–34.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%31.1–36.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 18.6%16.7–20.6 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9%8–10.1 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.4–6.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%5–6.5 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.5%16.4–22.8 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%12.5–16.8 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 39.9%35.7–44.2 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.6–19.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.5%37.2–45.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 41.5%36.9–46.2 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.8%66.6–73 | 73.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 37.3%34.4–40.4 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.6%75.1–80.2 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71%68.4–73.6 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 49.5%45.2–53.7 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 66.8%59.4–73.4 | 74.1% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.2%18.7–23.9 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.4%31–37.8 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 41.5%38.7–44.2 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 31.5%28.9–34.1 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 20.4%18.3–22.5 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 20.4%18.7–22.1 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36.4%33.7–39 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.1%37.1–45.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.5%17.3–21.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%19.4–24.6 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 12.5%11.2–13.8 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.5%11–14.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6.2–7.9 | 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 Alton
Is Alton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alton is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #567 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alton?
CDC estimates 45.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.2% and 50.4%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alton?
Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission, 6.3 miles in a straight line from Alton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Alton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 41.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 36.9–46.2%), 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 Alton 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 Alton.
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.