Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Big Sandy is healthier than 64%
Big Sandy differs from Texas on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Big Sandy. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big Sandy
COPD, stroke and cancer run high in Big Sandy
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.3%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.3%), vs 3.2% across Texas. Cancer is also above the state: 8%, vs 6.1% across Texas. In all, Big Sandy runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Big Sandy
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (26%), vs 21.2% across Texas. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 20.6%, vs 16.9% across Texas. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Big Sandy
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.7%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
Big Sandy is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Big Sandy is healthier than 17%. Against the 2,836 towns with similar household incomes ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 64%. Health Grade ↓
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 Big Sandy’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Big Sandy’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Sandy is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 38% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Big Sandy’s median household income is $41,467; among the 2,836 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Big Sandy adults…
Big Sandy runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Big Sandy residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
How Big Sandy adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Big Sandy 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Big Sandy
No hospital or community health center in Big Sandy 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 Big Sandy; ≈ 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 Big Sandy 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.
18.7% of Big Sandy adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Big Sandy and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sandy | C− | 37.7% | 13.4% | 17.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Big Sandy adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big Sandy
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Big Sandy is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Big Sandy’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Big Sandy | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.9%21.5–28.5 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14–18.3 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%18.3–23.3 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.7%30.1–47 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.7–15.3 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.8%33.8–42.2 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.9–41.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.2%25.1–31.7 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.2–8.9 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.3%8.1–10.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.2%15.1–21.7 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%15–20.8 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.8%25.9–36.2 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%13.7–20 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.1%32.2–46.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14%11.5–16.8 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.5%70.7–78.5 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.3%46.6–54.1 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.4%81.1–85.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%74.2–79.6 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.5%57.4–67.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.8%61.4–77.7 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.2–30.5 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.5%25.7–33.4 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.2%19.3–23.3 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%15.2–18.9 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.9%10.6–13.4 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12%10.9–13.1 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.7%16.9–20.7 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.4%32.6–42.7 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.2%15.7–20.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.1–21.4 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–9.1 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.3 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%9.8–12.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 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 Big Sandy
Is Big Sandy a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Sandy is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− 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 Big Sandy?
CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 47%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big Sandy?
University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler in Tyler, 13.0 miles in a straight line from Big Sandy’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Big Sandy have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–16.8%), 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 Big Sandy more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Big Sandy.
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.