Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Denison is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns
Denison differs from Texas on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Denison. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Denison
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Denison
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (8.8%), vs 6.1% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Denison runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Denison
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.7%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Denison, and more people treating it
39.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 77.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Denison’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Denison’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Denison is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns, #414 of 641 in Texas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 55% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Denison’s median household income is $67,365; among the 10,255 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 25%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Denison adults…
Denison runs above TX on 9 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.
14 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Denison adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Denison
No hospital or community health center in Denison 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 Denison; ≈ 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).
How Denison adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Denison 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.
17.1% of Denison adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Denison and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Denison adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Denison
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Denison is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Denison’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Denison | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.1%21.3–27.1 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.6 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.8–21.2 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%27.6–43.6 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.3–16.1 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.1%34.7–43.3 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%34.6–43.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%25.7–32.6 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%8–9.7 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.9–8.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%4–4.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.2%15.8–23 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%14.4–19.1 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.6%25.9–35.5 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%12.8–18.8 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.6%34.6–48.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.8%13–16.8 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.8%71.8–79.2 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.1%48.3–56.1 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.3–86.7 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.6–80 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.1%55.7–66.2 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%62.5–78.7 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21.3–29 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.5%24–31.5 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.3%17.5–21.4 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.6%13.9–17.5 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11%9.8–12.4 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.8–11.8 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.1%15.4–18.9 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.7%32.1–41.2 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.1%15.9–20.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%15.2–19 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.5–9.5 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%6–7.1 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.4–11.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.6–5.5 | 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 Denison
Is Denison a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Denison is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #414 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 25%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Denison?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 43.6%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Denison?
Texoma Medical Center in Denison, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Denison’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Denison have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13–16.8%), 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 Denison 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 Denison.
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.