Photo: Leaflet · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Amherst residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Amherst, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Amherst. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Amherst
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Amherst
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.1%), vs 5.6% across Texas. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 5.7% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Amherst runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Amherst adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.2%), vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Amherst, and more people treating it
42.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 79.9% 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 Amherst’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Amherst adults…
Amherst runs above TX on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Amherst adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Amherst
No hospital or community health center in Amherst 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 Amherst; ≈ 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).
How Amherst 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.
17.7% of Amherst adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Amherst and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Amherst adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Amherst
Why doesn’t Amherst have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Amherst.
What hospital is closest to Amherst?
Lamb Healthcare Center in Littlefield, 7.9 miles in a straight line from Amherst’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Amherst.
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. 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.