On CDC estimates, Ben Bolt is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns
Ben Bolt differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ben Bolt. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ben Bolt
More Ben Bolt adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (41.3%), vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
Diabetes, heart disease and stroke run high in Ben Bolt
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (19.5%), vs 12.7% across Texas. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.7%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Ben Bolt runs above Texas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Ben Bolt
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27%), vs 19.3% across Texas. Housing insecurity (21% vs 16.4%) and no reliable transportation (13.1% vs 10.5%) are higher too. 20.8% 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 Ben Bolt’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Ben Bolt’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ben Bolt is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 61% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Ben Bolt’s median household income is $61,741; among the 9,343 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Ben Bolt compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
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.
Out of every 100 Ben Bolt adults…
Ben Bolt runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. 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.
20.8% of Ben Bolt adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Care in and near Ben Bolt
No hospital or community health center in Ben Bolt 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 Ben Bolt; ≈ 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 Ben Bolt adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Ben Bolt 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.
Ben Bolt and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Bolt | C− | 41.3% | 19.5% | 13.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ben Bolt adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ben Bolt
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ben Bolt is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Ben Bolt’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ben Bolt | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.3%29.4–37.4 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.4–19.7 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.6–18.6 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.3%33.1–49.9 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.5%17.2–21.9 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.2%33.9–42.4 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%34.9–43.6 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.1%21.2–27.2 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.3%5.5–7.3 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.2%11.4–17.3 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%11.6–16 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 41.3%35.6–47.1 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%11.7–17.2 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.7%33.2–48.5 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 33.6%28.4–38.5 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.8%69.9–77.5 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.9%42.1–49.8 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.8%81.6–85.8 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.6–79.9 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54.1%48.7–59.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.5%61.7–78.4 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.9%16–22.1 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.2%25.5–33.2 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27%24.7–29.5 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21%18.9–23.3 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13%11.6–14.7 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.1%12–14.3 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.8%18.9–23 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%35.7–45.6 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.1%18.5–23.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.7–20.4 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.7%9.6–12 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%9.1–11.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 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 Ben Bolt
Is Ben Bolt a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ben Bolt is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ben Bolt?
CDC estimates 41.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.1% and 49.9%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ben Bolt?
Christus Spohn Hospital Alice in Alice, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Ben Bolt’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ben Bolt have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 28.4–38.5%), 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 Ben Bolt 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 Ben Bolt.
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.