On CDC estimates, Early is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns
Early differs from Texas on 10 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Early. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Early
What’s behind Early’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Early is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns, #292 of 641 in Texas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 66% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 31%).
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). Early’s median household income is $67,346; among the 10,255 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Early adults…
Early runs above TX on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Early
No hospital or community health center in Early 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 Early; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Early adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Early 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.
13.3% of Early adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Early and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Early adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Early
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Early is better than Texas on 5 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Early’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Early | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%18.5–25.4 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%12.8–16.8 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.7–20.2 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.9%26.3–42 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.2–14.9 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%32.4–40.8 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%33.6–42.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.2–30.7 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%6.7–9.5 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.1%11.6–17 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12–17.6 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.6%22.6–32.4 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%13.7–20.2 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.2%30.6–44.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.5%10.7–16.4 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%70.8–78.8 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54.1–61.4 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.2–87.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.5–80.2 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.5%55.3–65.7 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%65.9–80.5 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%20.9–28.4 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23.2–30.7 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.5%14.7–18.3 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.6%12–15.4 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%8.2–10.6 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.3%11.8–14.9 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.1%29.1–38.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.9%13.5–18.6 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%13.4–18 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.4 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%7.8–10.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.6–4.9 | 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 Early
Is Early a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Early is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #292 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Early?
CDC estimates 33.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.3% and 42%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Early?
Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood in Brownwood, 5.2 miles in a straight line from Early’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Early have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.7–16.4%), 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 Early more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Early.
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.