Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Chico is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns
Chico differs from Texas on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chico. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chico
COPD, cancer and depression run high in Chico
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.8%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 14 adults have had cancer (7.3%), vs 6.1% across Texas. Depression is also above the state: 25.1%, vs 21.2% across Texas. In all, Chico runs above Texas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Chico
50.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 18.6% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Chico
The closest emergency room is Faith Community Hospital in Jacksboro, 23.1 miles away in a straight line. 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 Chico’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Chico’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chico is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 61% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Chico’s median household income is $75,739; among the 10,849 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 32%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Chico adults…
Chico runs above TX on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Chico residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Chico adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Chico
No hospital or community health center in Chico 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 Chico; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Chico adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Chico 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.
15.7% of Chico adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Chico and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | C | 34.7% | 11.6% | 16.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chico adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chico
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chico is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Chico’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chico | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.6%19.5–25.9 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%12.9–16.8 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.3–22.1 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.7%26.8–43.1 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%9.9–13.2 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.5%29.3–37.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%30.9–39.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.9%21.8–28 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.2–11.8 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.5–7.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.8%6.7–9 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.9 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.6%15.6–21.9 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%13.9–19.3 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.4%23.6–33.3 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%15–22 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.9%38.2–49.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.8%13.5–18.5 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.5%68.1–76.6 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.2%46.6–53.7 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.9%80.6–85 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.7%70.5–76.6 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.7%50.8–60.4 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.7%61.7–76.9 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21.3–29.2 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23.3–30.3 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%17–20.9 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.1%13.3–16.9 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.2%9–11.5 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.5%9.5–11.5 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.7%14–17.4 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.6%29.1–38.5 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.3%13.1–17.4 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.2–19.8 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 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 Chico
Is Chico a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chico is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 32%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chico?
CDC estimates 34.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.8% and 43.1%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chico?
Faith Community Hospital in Jacksboro, 23.1 miles in a straight line from Chico’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Chico have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.5–18.5%), 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 Chico 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 Chico.
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.