On CDC estimates, Freer is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns
Freer trails Texas on 8 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Freer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Freer
Freer is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Freer’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
The nearest ER is 32 miles from Freer
The closest emergency room is Christus Spohn Hospital Alice in Alice, 31.5 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Community Action Corporation of South Texas is closer (23.3 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More Freer adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.8%), vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
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 Freer’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Freer’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Freer is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 79% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Freer’s median household income is $64,145; among the 9,755 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Freer
No hospital or community health center in Freer 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 Freer; ≈ 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.
Out of every 100 Freer adults…
Freer runs above TX on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Freer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Freer 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.
14.3% of Freer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Freer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freer | C | 37.5% | 15.5% | 11.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Freer adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Freer
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Freer is better than Texas on 0 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Freer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Freer | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.6%22.7–30.8 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.1–17.3 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.8–17.9 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.5%29.2–46.6 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.5%13.5–17.8 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.6%30.5–38.9 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33.1–42.1 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.3%19.5–25.4 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.2%4.4–6.1 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.9 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%12.8–19.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.5%9.5–13.6 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 34.8%29.1–40.8 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%12.8–19 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%30.9–45.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 29.5%24.3–34.8 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.1%68.7–77 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.4%46.2–54.3 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%82.8–87.3 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%73.1–78.8 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.9%49.9–61.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.1%59.8–77.4 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.7%15.7–22 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.7%26.9–35 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.8%20.6–25.1 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.6%16.5–20.7 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.5%9.3–11.9 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%10.3–12.4 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.3%12.8–16.1 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.4%30.4–40.7 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17%14.4–19.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%13.5–18.4 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.7 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.9 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.2–9.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%3.9–5.2 | 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 Freer
Is Freer a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Freer is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 47%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Freer?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 46.6%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Freer have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 24.3–34.8%), 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 Freer 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 Freer.
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.