Photo: Theunderratedtaco · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Harlingen is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns
Harlingen differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Harlingen. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Harlingen
Harlingen is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Harlingen is healthier than 21%. Against the 7,007 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 42%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Harlingen
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (29.6%), vs 19.3% across Texas. No reliable transportation (14.7% vs 10.5%) and housing insecurity (22.2% vs 16.4%) are higher too. 26% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes, heart disease and stroke run high in Harlingen
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (18.6%), vs 12.7% across Texas. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.6%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Harlingen runs above Texas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Harlingen adults get no exercise
36.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 27.8% across Texas. There are 27 miles of trails across 23 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Harlingen has a top-rated hospital
Harlingen Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Harlingen’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Harlingen’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harlingen is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #438 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 64% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Harlingen’s median household income is $53,645; among the 7,007 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26% of Harlingen adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Out of every 100 Harlingen adults…
Harlingen runs above TX on 5 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.
27 miles of trails across 23 parks and preserves
Care in and near Harlingen
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Harlingen, 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 Harlingen; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Harlingen adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Harlingen 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.
Harlingen and the towns around it
Harlingen’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlingen | C− | 40.1% | 18.6% | 13.3% | CDC place |
| San Benito | D | 42.3% | 21.1% | 14.7% | CDC place |
| Juarez | — | — | — | — | |
| Las Palmas II | — | — | — | — | |
| Combes | C | 38.1% | 17.7% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Palm Valley | C− | 38.4% | 21.4% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Primera | C+ | 37.7% | 14.7% | 11% | CDC place |
| Lasana | — | — | — | — |
Juarez, Las Palmas II and Lasana: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Harlingen adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Harlingen
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Harlingen is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Harlingen’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Harlingen | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.4%27.7–33.1 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.7–18.1 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.7–18.2 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%35.4–44.9 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.6%16.8–20.6 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.6%32.6–38.7 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%34.4–40.9 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22%19.7–24.3 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.9%7.9–10 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.2%13.5–18.9 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.3%11.7–15.1 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 36.2%32.5–39.9 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.8–17.7 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.3%34.9–43.5 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 33.1%30.3–36.1 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73%69.7–76.2 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.9%46.7–52.8 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%82.1–85.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.8–79.8 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.2%50.8–59.3 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.8%66.3–78.5 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.4%16.9–22 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.9%27.7–34 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 29.6%27.5–31.8 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.2%20.3–24.3 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.4%13–16 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.7%13.5–15.9 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26%23.9–28.2 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%33.3–40.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.3%17.4–21.2 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.7%15.9–19.4 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.7–9.4 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.9%10.1–11.8 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%10.1–12.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.5%6–7 | 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 Harlingen
Is Harlingen a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harlingen is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #438 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Harlingen?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.4% and 44.9%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Harlingen?
VHS Harlingen Hospital Company in Harlingen, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Harlingen’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Harlingen have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 33.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 30.3–36.1%), 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 Harlingen more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Harlingen.
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.