Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Carthage is healthier than 49%
Carthage differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carthage. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carthage
Carthage is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Carthage is healthier than 22%. Against the 6,213 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 49%. Health Grade ↓
COPD, cancer and stroke run high in Carthage
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 12 adults have had cancer (8.4%), vs 6.1% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Carthage runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Carthage, and more people treating it
39.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 78.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Carthage is short on primary care and mental health care
Carthage’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Carthage has a five-star hospital
UT Health East Texas Carthage Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Carthage’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Carthage’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carthage is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns, #428 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 43% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Carthage’s median household income is $51,250; among the 6,213 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 49%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Carthage adults…
Carthage runs above TX on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Carthage
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Carthage, 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 Carthage; ≈ 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 Carthage adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks 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 Carthage 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.3% of Carthage adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Carthage and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage | C− | 37.9% | 14.3% | 15.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carthage adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carthage
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carthage is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Carthage’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carthage | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%21.4–28 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.6–17.5 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.7–21 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.9%29.7–46.6 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.5–16.3 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.3%35.1–43.7 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%33.7–42.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.3%25.1–31.8 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.5–9.2 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.5–9.8 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–4.8 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%12.8–19.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5%13.3–17.9 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.6%25.6–35.8 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.8–18.8 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%33.3–48.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.6%13.4–18 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.4%72.5–79.9 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.8%46.7–55 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83–86.8 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.4–80.5 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.4%55.7–66.9 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%61.9–79.1 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.7%20.2–27.6 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.8%26.1–33.8 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.1%20–24.2 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.9%16–19.9 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.6%11.1–14.1 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.1%11–13.2 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.3%17.3–21.3 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.1%32.3–42 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.4%15.9–20.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%15–19.1 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9.1 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.5–5.6 | 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 Carthage
Is Carthage a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carthage is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #428 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 Carthage?
CDC estimates 37.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 46.6%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carthage?
UT Health East Texas Carthage Hospital in Carthage, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Carthage’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carthage have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.4–18%), 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 Carthage 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 Carthage.
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.