Photo: Nsaum75 · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Galveston is healthier than 59%
Galveston differs from Texas on 8 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Galveston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Galveston
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Galveston
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.6%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.3%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Galveston runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Galveston, and more people treating it
39.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 78.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Galveston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Galveston is healthier than 33%. Against the 7,621 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 59%. 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 Galveston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Galveston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Galveston is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns, #338 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 57% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Galveston’s median household income is $55,631; among the 7,621 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 59%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Galveston adults…
Galveston runs above TX on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Galveston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Galveston
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Galveston, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Galveston; ≈ 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.
36 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
How Galveston 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.
17.6% of Galveston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Galveston and the towns around it
Galveston’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galveston | C | 36.4% | 15.1% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Texas City | C− | 38.3% | 15% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Tiki Island | B+ | 31.1% | 13.5% | 11.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Galveston adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Galveston
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Galveston is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Galveston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Galveston | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24%21.4–26.6 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.2–16.4 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.5–19.2 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.4%29.1–44.1 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.3–17 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.8%35.8–43.8 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.6–41.9 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%23.6–29.8 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.4 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.6–8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.6%6.8–8.3 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.5%10.9–16.4 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%12.3–15.9 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.5%25.2–33.9 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.5–19.4 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%33.6–43.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.5%15.7–19.4 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.7%71.9–79.1 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.6%50–57.2 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.9–87.1 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.4–80.5 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.8%57.8–67.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%65.9–79.9 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.9%18.7–25.3 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%24.7–30.8 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.9%19.1–22.7 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.5%14.9–18.2 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.7%10.4–13 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11%10–12 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.6%16–19.3 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.1%30–38.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.2%15.3–19.1 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%14–17.2 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.4–7.5 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.6%8.6–10.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.7–5.5 | 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 Galveston
Is Galveston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Galveston is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #338 of 641 in Texas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Galveston?
CDC estimates 36.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 44.1%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Galveston?
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston in Galveston, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Galveston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Galveston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.7–19.4%), 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 Galveston 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 Galveston.
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.