Photo: Billy Hathorn. Original uploader was Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Bay City is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Bay City trails Texas on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bay City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bay City
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Bay City
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.1%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.3%), vs 3.2% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.3%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Bay City runs above Texas on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Bay City
45.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 19.7% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Bay City
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (27.7%), vs 19.3% across Texas. Utility shut-off threats (14.6% vs 10.7%) and no reliable transportation (14.1% vs 10.5%) are higher too. 24.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Bay City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Bay City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bay City is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #534 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 36% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Bay City’s median household income is $53,840; among the 7,073 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Bay City adults…
Bay City runs above TX on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Bay City residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bay City 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.
24.1% of Bay City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Care in and near Bay City
1 community health center in Bay City, 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 Bay City; ≈ 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.
1.2 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
How Bay City 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.
Bay City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bay City adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bay City
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bay City is better than Texas on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Bay City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bay City | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.3%26.2–32.7 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.6–18.4 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.6–20.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%32.5–49.8 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.3%14.4–18.5 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.4%34.3–42.7 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.8%32.6–41.3 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.3%22.4–28.5 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.7–7 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.1%7.2–9 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%4–4.6 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.7%16.3–23.4 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%14.1–18.5 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35.7%30.6–40.9 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.7–18.8 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.4%33.7–49.3 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 25.2%22.3–28.1 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.9%69.9–77.8 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.7%41.9–49.6 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%81.1–84.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.3%73.6–78.8 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.5%50.7–62.1 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.1%61.1–78.1 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%19–26 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.5%26.6–34.5 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.7%25.4–30.1 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.5%19.4–23.7 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.6%13–16.2 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.1%12.9–15.3 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.1%21.9–26.3 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.4%33.8–43.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.4%17.2–21.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.5%16.5–20.5 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%7–8.7 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%8.2–9.7 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%10.1–12.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.5–6.5 | 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 Bay City
Is Bay City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bay City is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #534 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bay City?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.5% and 49.8%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bay City?
Matagorda Regional Medical Center in Bay City, 10.4 miles in a straight line from Bay City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bay City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 25.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 22.3–28.1%), 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 Bay City 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 Bay City.
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.