Photo: Renegomezphotography · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Brownwood is healthier than 53%
Brownwood trails Texas on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brownwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brownwood
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Brownwood
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.6%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.4%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Cancer is also above the state: 7.7%, vs 6.1% across Texas. In all, Brownwood runs above Texas on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Brownwood
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.1%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
Brownwood is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Brownwood is healthier than 21%. Against the 5,395 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 53%. 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 Brownwood’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Brownwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brownwood is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #435 of 641 in Texas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 51% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Brownwood’s median household income is $48,981; among the 5,395 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Brownwood adults…
Brownwood runs above TX on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
Care in and near Brownwood
1 community health center in Brownwood, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Brownwood; ≈ 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 Brownwood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Brownwood adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Brownwood 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.2% of Brownwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Brownwood and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Brownwood adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Brownwood
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brownwood is better than Texas on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Brownwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brownwood | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%22.6–28.8 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.1–17.9 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17–21.4 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36%28.1–44.3 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.2–15.9 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%32.5–40.7 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.2%32.9–41.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.4%23.4–29.5 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7–8.5 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14.3–20.3 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14–18.4 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.7%26.9–36.7 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.5–19.8 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39%32.4–46 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.7%16.4–20.9 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.9%69.8–77.7 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.3%47.7–54.9 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%81.2–85 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.4%73.5–79 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57%51.7–62 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.6%60.1–76.4 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%20.9–28.3 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.6%24.8–32.6 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22%20–24.1 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.1%15.3–19.1 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10.4–13.2 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12%10.9–13.1 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.2%17.4–21.2 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.2%32.6–41.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%15.3–19.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%15.9–20.1 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.5–7.8 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.6–11.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 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 Brownwood
Is Brownwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brownwood is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #435 of 641 in Texas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brownwood?
CDC estimates 36% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.1% and 44.3%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brownwood?
Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood in Brownwood, 2.3 miles in a straight line from Brownwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Brownwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 16.4–20.9%), 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 Brownwood 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 Brownwood.
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.