Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Hereford

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Hereford, TX, welcome sign IMG 4834Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0
DHealth Grade
Health in Hereford · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Hereford is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns

Hereford differs from Texas on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 16 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hereford. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Hereford

More Hereford adults get no exercise

2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.6%), vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓

Dental care lags in Hereford

42.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 18.4% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓

Making ends meet is harder in Hereford

3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (30.5%), vs 19.3% across Texas. Housing insecurity (23.6% vs 16.4%) and no reliable transportation (15.1% vs 10.5%) are higher too. 23.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓

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 Hereford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Hereford’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hereford is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #523 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 46% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 3%).

D−Self-rated health32% · TX 21.8% · U.S. 19.4%
DPhysical distress17% · TX 13.2% · U.S. 13%
CMental distress18.1% · TX 16.9% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity40.5% · TX 35.6% · U.S. 32.9%
DDiabetes16.3% · TX 12.7% · U.S. 12%
B−Smoking15.2% smoke · TX 12.5% · U.S. 11.8%
D−Exercise39.6% · TX 27.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 13%
Less healthyHealthier
Texas towns we grade (641)Healthier than 18%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $43K–$71K (7,978)Healthier 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). Hereford’s median household income is $56,868; among the 7,978 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 20%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Hereford compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%).

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Hereford could be anywhere from D− to C+.
A note on the data.property crimes reported to the FBI went from 275 in 2023 to 130 in 2024

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Texas

Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.

Get no exercise 39.6%TX 27.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 41%TX 38.2%
Binge drink 16%TX 17%
Smoke cigarettes 15.2%TX 12.5%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Hereford, betterHereford, worseAbout the sameTexas
Where Hereford gets moving

1.1 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Hereford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.

71%Yearly checkupTX 74%
43%Dentist visitTX 55%
81%Cholesterol checkTX 85%
54%Colon screeningTX 58%
66%MammogramTX 74%
74%Taking BP medsTX 74%
1 in 3
working-age adults has no health insurance
Hereford 35% · Texas 1 in 5 (19.1%)
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

3 in 10
Hereford adults worry about having enough food
30.5% · TX 19.3%
Worse than TX
1 in 4
Hereford adults worry about keeping their housing
23.6% · TX 16.4%
Worse than TX
1 in 7
Hereford adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
14.4% · TX 10.7%
Worse than TX
1 in 7
Hereford adults lack reliable transportation
15.1% · TX 10.5%
Worse than TX

23.6% of Hereford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Hereford adults…

Hereford runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.

16 of every 100 Hereford adults have diabetes
Texas: 13 in 100 · worse · likely 14.4–18.4%
Better than TXWorseAbout the sameTexas
Why age matters in Hereford

Only 12% of Hereford residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.

Residents 65 and older

Hereford12%
Texas13%
Getting care

Care in and near Hereford

1 hospital and 1 community health center in Hereford, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERHereford Regional Medical CenterHereford · 0.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careRegence Health NetworkHereford · 0.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Regence Health Network
5 sites · nearest in Hereford
Sliding-scale feesIn Hereford
Directions to nearest
0.5 mi
Hereford Regional Medical Center
Hereford · not rated
ERIn Hereford
19.1 mi
Plains Memorial Hospital
Dimmitt · not rated
Rural critical access
22 mi
Parmer County Community Hospital
Friona · not rated
ERRural critical access
37.4 mi
Bsa Hospital
Amarillo · ★★★★★
ER
54.8 mi
La Casa De Buena Salud
2 sites · nearest in Clovis
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Hereford itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Hereford itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Hereford itself

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 Hereford; ≈ 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).

Mind & connection

How Hereford adults are doing

About the same as Texas on each measure.

1 in 3Hereford adults lack social or emotional support
32.4% · TX 28.4% · About the same as TX
1 in 5Hereford adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.6% · TX 21.2% · About the same as TX
1 in 6Hereford adults are in frequent mental distress
18.1% · TX 16.9% · About the same as TX
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Hereford and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
HerefordD40.5%16.3%15.2%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

39.4%

of Hereford adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs19.2%
Thinking or memory19.5%
Hearing8.1%
Errands alone11%
Vision10%
Dressing or bathing6%
Texas

Every CDC estimate for Hereford

Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hereford is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Hereford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…HerefordTXU.S.vs TX
Overall health
Fair or poor health32%28.4–35.621.8%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)17%15.1–19.113.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.1%16–20.316.9%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity40.5%31.7–49.735.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes16.3%14.4–18.412.7%12%Worse
High blood pressure35.2%31.1–39.533.1%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.8%32.5–41.435.1%37.1%About the same
Arthritis22.5%19.7–25.421.6%25.3%About the same
Asthma9.3%8.2–10.59.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer5.4%4.9–66.1%7.9%Better
Coronary heart disease7%6.3–7.75.6%6.4%Worse
COPD7%6.2–7.85.7%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.8%3.5–4.23.2%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)18.4%15.2–2212.5%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.2%13.2–17.612.5%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work39.6%34.2–45.227.8%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking16%13–19.317%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours41%33.4–48.838.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)35%30.7–39.719.1%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year71.4%66.9–75.573.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year42.6%38.8–46.454.6%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years80.9%78.3–83.284.6%87.1%Worse
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)74.1%71.1–76.874.1%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)53.9%48.1–59.457.9%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)65.7%56.1–74.474.1%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression20.6%17.3–24.121.2%20.6%About the same
Lack social and emotional support32.4%28.4–36.628.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food30.5%28–33.219.3%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing23.6%21.3–26.216.4%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off14.4%12.9–16.210.7%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation15.1%13.8–16.510.5%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)23.6%21.4–25.914.6%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability39.4%34.6–44.430.9%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs19.2%17–21.514%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering19.5%17.2–21.815.1%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty8.1%7.2–96.3%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty10%9–116.1%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone11%9.7–12.38.2%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing6%5.4–6.54%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 Hereford

Is Hereford a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hereford is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: D for health, #523 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 20%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Hereford?

CDC estimates 40.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.7% and 49.7%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Hereford?

Hereford Regional Medical Center in Hereford, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Hereford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Hereford have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 35% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 30.7–39.7%), 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 Hereford 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 Hereford.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.