Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ben Wheeler is healthier than 18%
Ben Wheeler differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ben Wheeler. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ben Wheeler
Cancer, arthritis and COPD run high in Ben Wheeler
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.5%), vs 6.1% across Texas. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (28.1%), vs 21.6% across Texas. COPD is also above the state: 7.4%, vs 5.7% across Texas. In all, Ben Wheeler runs above Texas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Ben Wheeler’s lead shrinks
Ben Wheeler is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, but 18% of the 5,672 towns with similar household incomes ($90K–$151K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Ben Wheeler
The closest emergency room is UT Health East Texas Athens Hospital in Athens, 20.7 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, East Texas Community Clinic is closer (11.5 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Ben Wheeler keeps up with checkups
It beats Texas on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (63% vs 54.6%) and cholesterol checks (86.7% vs 84.6%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Ben Wheeler 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 ↓
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 Wheeler’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Ben Wheeler’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ben Wheeler is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 67% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 42%).
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 Wheeler’s median household income is $120,523; among the 5,672 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($90K–$151K), it’s healthier than 18%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Ben Wheeler adults…
Ben Wheeler runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ben Wheeler
No hospital or community health center in Ben Wheeler 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 Wheeler; ≈ 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 Wheeler 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.
8.5% of Ben Wheeler adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Ben Wheeler 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 Wheeler and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Wheeler | B | 33.7% | 12.6% | 13% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ben Wheeler adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ben Wheeler
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ben Wheeler is better than Texas on 10 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Ben Wheeler’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ben Wheeler | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20%16.9–23.2 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12–15.9 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.5–18.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%26–42.1 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%10.8–14.6 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.2%33–41.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%35.5–44.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 28.1%24.6–31.4 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.5–10.5 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.2–8.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.4%6.1–8.8 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.2–4.1 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.2%7.4–11.3 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%10.8–15.4 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.8%21.1–30.8 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.4–20.4 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%27.2–40.8 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.1%11.3–17.3 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.7%72.2–79.4 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63%59.4–66.5 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.7–88.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76.1–81.4 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.6%64.7–74.2 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.4%67.4–82.3 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%19.7–26.8 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.8%22.4–29.5 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.7%11.3–14.1 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11%9.7–12.4 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.4–8.2 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.9–8.3 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.7%28–37.4 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%12.7–17.7 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%12.2–16.3 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.2–5.6 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%6.7–9.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.1–4.2 | 4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Wheeler
Is Ben Wheeler a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ben Wheeler is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ben Wheeler?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 26% and 42.1%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ben Wheeler?
UT Health East Texas Athens Hospital in Athens, 20.7 miles in a straight line from Ben Wheeler’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ben Wheeler have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.3–17.3%), 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 Wheeler 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 Ben Wheeler.
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.