On CDC estimates, Bells is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns
Bells differs from Texas on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bells. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bells
Cancer and depression run high in Bells
1 in 13 adults have had cancer (7.8%), vs 6.1% across Texas. 1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.7%), vs 21.2% across Texas. Conditions ↓
Fewer Bells adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Texas. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 5 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nearly everyone in Bells is insured
Only 10.9% 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 Bells’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Bells’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bells is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 77% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 27%).
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). Bells’ median household income is $92,075; among the 9,706 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 56%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Bells adults…
Bells runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Bells residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Diabetes run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10% of Bells adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bells adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Bells
No hospital or community health center in Bells 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 Bells; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Bells adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Bells 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.
Bells and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bells | B | 32.6% | 10.3% | 14.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bells adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bells
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bells is better than Texas on 7 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Bells’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bells | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.9%14.9–21.1 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.1–14.9 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16–20.9 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.6%24.9–40.3 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.3%8.8–12 | 12.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%28.3–36.7 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%31.5–40.3 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.5%21.3–27.7 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–12 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7–8.7 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%4.9–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.4–7.7 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.6–3.4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.5–14.7 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.3%11.5–17.3 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%19–28.1 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.1%15.6–22.7 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.9%33.7–48 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%8.5–13.8 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.7%69.4–77.7 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.5%51.6–59.3 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%83.5–87.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.4%69.8–76.6 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.5%53.9–64.8 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.6%64–80 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%21.9–29.6 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22–29 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.9%11.6–14.5 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.7–13.7 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.5–9.7 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7.2–8.8 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10%8.9–11.3 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6%25–34.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.5%10.5–14.8 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%12.5–17.1 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.6–7.4 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.6–4.8 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%6.6–9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.8–3.9 | 4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Bells
Is Bells a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bells is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 56%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bells?
CDC estimates 32.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.9% and 40.3%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bells?
Wilson N Jones Regional Medical Center in Sherman, 12.2 miles in a straight line from Bells’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bells have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–13.8%), 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 Bells 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 Bells.
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.