Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, De Kalb is healthier than 61%
De Kalb differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for De Kalb. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in De Kalb
COPD, stroke and cancer run high in De Kalb
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5%), vs 3.2% across Texas. Cancer is also above the state: 9.4%, vs 6.1% across Texas. In all, De Kalb runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 28 miles from De Kalb
The closest emergency room is Mccurtain Memorial Hospital in Idabel, 28.2 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in De Kalb, and more people treating it
43% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 81.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
De Kalb is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, De Kalb is healthier than 27%. Against the 5,839 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 61%. 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 De Kalb’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind De Kalb’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, De Kalb is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 51% of U.S. towns); diabetes 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). De Kalb’s median household income is $50,104; among the 5,839 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 61%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where De Kalb compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 De Kalb adults…
De Kalb runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near De Kalb
No hospital or community health center in De Kalb 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 De Kalb; ≈ 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 De Kalb 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How De Kalb 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.
17.3% of De Kalb adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
De Kalb and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Kalb | C | 36% | 15.7% | 15% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of De Kalb adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for De Kalb
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, De Kalb is better than Texas on 4 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside De Kalb’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | De Kalb | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.2%20.8–27.6 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.4–17.5 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.4–19.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36%27.9–44.7 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.7%13.6–17.9 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43%38.6–47.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%34.5–43.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28–35.3 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.6–12.4 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.5–10.5 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9%7.7–10.4 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.4–5.6 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20%16.5–24 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%12.6–17.6 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.8%25.6–36.3 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%11.5–17.1 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%33.9–48.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.5%11.3–15.9 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%74.2–81.3 | 73.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.5%49.7–57.5 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.7–89.1 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%79.2–84 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.3%57.8–68.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%64.4–80 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%19.4–26.7 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.9%25–32.7 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.9%17.8–21.9 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.9%14.1–17.6 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.6%9.6–11.6 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.3%15.5–19.2 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.9%31.9–41.9 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.6%16.9–22.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.5–17.5 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%8.9–11.7 | 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 De Kalb
Is De Kalb a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, De Kalb is healthier than 27% 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 De Kalb?
CDC estimates 36% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.9% and 44.7%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to De Kalb?
Mccurtain Memorial Hospital in Idabel, 28.2 miles in a straight line from De Kalb’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in De Kalb have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.3–15.9%), 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 De Kalb 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 De Kalb.
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.