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Bolivar Lighthouse -- Point Bolivar, Galveston, TexasPhoto: Jim Evans · CC BY-SA 4.0
≈ CHealth Grade
Health in Bolivar Peninsula · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Bolivar Peninsula is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns

Bolivar Peninsula differs from Texas on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 10 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bolivar Peninsula. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Bolivar Peninsula

Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in Bolivar Peninsula

1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.6%), about twice the Texas rate. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), about twice the Texas rate. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.8%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Bolivar Peninsula runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 38% of residents are 65 or older (Texas 13%), and cancer, COPD and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓

More high blood pressure in Bolivar Peninsula, and more people treating it

47.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 83.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓

Smoking is more common in Bolivar Peninsula

1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.3%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓

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 Bolivar Peninsula’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.

Health Grade

What’s behind Bolivar Peninsula’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bolivar Peninsula is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #392 of 641 in Texas. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 63% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 6%).

C−Self-rated health23.9% · TX 21.8% · U.S. 19.4%
DPhysical distress17% · TX 13.2% · U.S. 13%
BMental distress16.3% · TX 16.9% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity36.2% · TX 35.6% · U.S. 32.9%
DDiabetes17% · TX 12.7% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking16.3% smoke · TX 12.5% · U.S. 11.8%
C−Exercise29.7% · TX 27.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 26%
Less healthyHealthier
Texas towns we grade (641)Healthier than 39%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $57K–$94K (10,835)Healthier than 20%

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). Bolivar Peninsula’s median household income is $75,547; among the 10,835 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$94K), it’s healthier than 20%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Bolivar Peninsula compares well: cholesterol check in 5 years, 90.3% (U.S. 87.1%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.3% (U.S. 76.5%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Bolivar Peninsula could be anywhere from D to B. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Bolivar Peninsula adults…

Bolivar Peninsula runs above TX on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

12 of every 100 Bolivar Peninsula adults have had cancer
Texas: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 10.4–12.8%
Better than TXWorseAbout the sameTexas
Why age matters here

Bolivar Peninsula is an older town: 38% of residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bolivar Peninsula as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Bolivar Peninsula38%
Texas13%
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Bolivar Peninsula adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.

80%Yearly checkupTX 74%
56%Dentist visitTX 55%
90%Cholesterol checkTX 85%
67%Colon screeningTX 58%
73%MammogramTX 74%
83%Taking BP medsTX 74%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Bolivar Peninsula 11.9% · Texas 1 in 5 (19.1%)
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Texas

Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.

Get no exercise 29.7%TX 27.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 36.5%TX 38.2%
Binge drink 14.6%TX 17%
Smoke cigarettes 16.3%TX 12.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Bolivar Peninsula, betterBolivar Peninsula, worseAbout the sameTexas
Getting care

Care in and near Bolivar Peninsula

No hospital or community health center in Bolivar Peninsula itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERBayside Community HospitalAnahuac · 19.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careChambers County Public Hospital District #1Anahuac · 19.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
17.6 mi
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Galveston · not rated
Children’s
19.5 mi
Bayside Community Hospital
Anahuac · not rated
ERRural critical access
19.5 mi
Chambers County Public Hospital District #1
2 sites · nearest in Anahuac
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
20.2 mi
Coastal Health & Wellness
2 sites · nearest in Galveston
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
25.7 mi
Riceland Medical Center
Winnie · not rated
ERRural critical access
31.2 mi
Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital
Baytown · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary carePart of Bolivar Peninsula is a federal shortage area.Bolivar Peninsula SA - Galveston County · need score 15 of 25
✓ Dental careBolivar Peninsula is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Bolivar Peninsula itself

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 Bolivar Peninsula; ≈ 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).

Mind & connection

How Bolivar Peninsula adults are doing

On 1 of 3 measures, Bolivar Peninsula does better than Texas.

1 in 4Bolivar Peninsula adults lack social or emotional support
25.2% · TX 28.4% · Better than TX
1 in 4Bolivar Peninsula adults have been diagnosed with depression
23% · TX 21.2% · About the same as TX
1 in 6Bolivar Peninsula adults are in frequent mental distress
16.3% · TX 16.9% · About the same as TX
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

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 needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 6
Bolivar Peninsula adults worry about having enough food
15.4% · TX 19.3%
Better than TX
1 in 9
Bolivar Peninsula adults worry about keeping their housing
11.5% · TX 16.4%
Better than TX
1 in 12
Bolivar Peninsula adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.3% · TX 10.7%
Better than TX
1 in 13
Bolivar Peninsula adults lack reliable transportation
7.9% · TX 10.5%
Better than TX

12.7% of Bolivar Peninsula adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.

Around town

Bolivar Peninsula and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Bolivar PeninsulaC36.2%17%16.3%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

36.3%

of Bolivar Peninsula adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20.4%
Thinking or memory14.2%
Hearing10.1%
Errands alone9.4%
Vision6.1%
Dressing or bathing5.1%
Texas

Every CDC estimate for Bolivar Peninsula

Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bolivar Peninsula is better than Texas on 10 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Bolivar Peninsula’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Bolivar PeninsulaTXU.S.vs TX
Overall health
Fair or poor health23.9%20.4–27.621.8%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)17%14.7–19.313.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.3%14.2–18.416.9%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity36.2%28.6–44.335.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes17%14.5–19.512.7%12%Worse
High blood pressure47.3%42.5–5233.1%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)44.6%39.8–49.435.1%37.1%Worse
Arthritis36.4%32.3–40.421.6%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.4%9.1–11.79.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer11.6%10.4–12.86.1%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease9.8%8.6–11.15.6%6.4%Worse
COPD10.7%9.1–12.55.7%6.3%Worse
Stroke5%4.4–5.63.2%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)11.5%9.2–14.312.5%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.3%13.3–19.212.5%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work29.7%24.5–35.227.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking14.6%12–17.417%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours36.5%31.7–41.538.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)11.9%9.9–14.119.1%11%Better
Checkup in the past year79.6%76.3–82.773.8%77.4%Better
Dentist visit in the past year55.5%51.8–59.254.6%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years90.3%88.9–91.584.6%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)83.3%80.4–85.874.1%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)67%62–71.557.9%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)72.8%65–79.574.1%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression23%19.5–26.721.2%20.6%About the same
Lack social and emotional support25.2%22.4–28.328.4%23.6%Better
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food15.4%13.8–1719.3%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing11.5%10.3–12.916.4%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off8.3%7.3–9.310.7%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation7.9%7.2–8.710.5%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)12.7%11.3–14.214.6%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability36.3%31.4–41.530.9%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs20.4%17.4–23.614%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.2%12.3–16.415.1%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty10.1%8.9–11.56.3%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty6.1%5.3–6.96.1%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone9.4%8.1–10.98.2%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing5.1%4.5–5.94%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 Bolivar Peninsula

Is Bolivar Peninsula a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bolivar Peninsula is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #392 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 20%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Bolivar Peninsula?

CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 44.3%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Bolivar Peninsula?

Bayside Community Hospital in Anahuac, 19.5 miles in a straight line from Bolivar Peninsula’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Bolivar Peninsula have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 11.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.9–14.1%), 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 Bolivar Peninsula 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 Bolivar Peninsula.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.