On CDC estimates, Forest Heights is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns
Forest Heights differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Forest Heights. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Forest Heights
COPD, cancer and arthritis run high in Forest Heights
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (8.9%), vs 6.1% across Texas. Arthritis is also above the state: 28.8%, vs 21.6% across Texas. In all, Forest Heights runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Forest Heights
The closest emergency room is West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in Sulphur, 23.4 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Triangle Area Network is closer (7.8 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Smoking is more common in Forest Heights
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.5%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Forest Heights, and more people treating it
38.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 77.6% 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 Forest Heights’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Forest Heights’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Forest Heights is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 38% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 20%).
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). Forest Heights’ median household income is $81,429; among the 10,689 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Forest Heights adults…
Forest Heights runs above TX on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Forest Heights
No hospital or community health center in Forest Heights 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 Forest Heights; ≈ 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Forest Heights adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Forest Heights adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Forest Heights 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.
12.6% of Forest Heights adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Forest Heights and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Heights | C | 38.8% | 13.1% | 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 Forest Heights adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Forest Heights
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Forest Heights is better than Texas on 6 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Forest Heights’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Forest Heights | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%18.7–25.7 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.2–17.6 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.5–21.5 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%29.8–47.7 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.1%11.3–15.2 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.4%33.9–43 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%33.4–42.9 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%25.2–32.3 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.4–12.2 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%7.9–9.8 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.5–8.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.4–10.2 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.5–4.5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.6%13.6–19.8 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%13.6–19.8 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.3%22.5–33 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%14.3–21 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%35.2–47 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.6%9.4–14.1 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%70.9–78.8 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.9%53–60.4 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.5–87.5 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%74.4–80.4 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.8%55.7–65.6 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%63.3–78.1 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%21.7–29.9 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.3%21.9–28.7 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.9%13.2–16.5 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.5%11–14 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.9–9.6 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.6%11.2–14.1 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.2%29.2–39.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.5%14.1–19.3 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%13.9–18.5 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8.1–10.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 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 Forest Heights
Is Forest Heights a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Forest Heights is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Forest Heights?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 47.7%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Forest Heights?
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in Sulphur, 23.4 miles in a straight line from Forest Heights’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Forest Heights have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–14.1%), 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 Forest Heights 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 Forest Heights.
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.