Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Hico is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns
Hico differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hico. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hico
Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in Hico
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.8%), vs 6.1% across Texas. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 5.7% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.7%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Hico runs above Texas on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Hico, and more people treating it
38.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 79% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer Hico adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Texas. 1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 5 adults 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 Hico’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Hico’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hico is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 59% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 35%).
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). Hico’s median household income is $67,500; among the 10,283 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 57%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Hico adults…
Hico runs above TX on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Hico adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.8% of Hico adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Care in and near Hico
No hospital or community health center in Hico 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 Hico; ≈ 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.
1.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Hico adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Hico does better than 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.
Hico and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hico | C+ | 35.2% | 13% | 13.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hico adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hico
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hico is better than Texas on 8 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Hico’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hico | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.4%17.9–25.2 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%12.6–17 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15–19.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.2%26.7–44.2 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11–15.3 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.3%33.7–43 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%34.2–43.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%25.6–33 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9–11.8 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.7–10.9 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.6–8.9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%6.7–9.7 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.5–4.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.7%12.8–19 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.9%11.1–16.8 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.7%22.3–33.4 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.3–19.6 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.3%32.1–46.8 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.2%11–16.1 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.4%72.3–80.1 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.1%48.1–56.1 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%84.9–88.8 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76–81.9 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.6%55.3–65.8 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.1%59.9–77.4 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.7%19.9–27.7 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20.4–27.3 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.7%12.2–15.2 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7.2–8.7 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.8%10.4–13.1 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.6%29.3–39.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.8%14.1–19.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%12.8–17.3 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.7–10.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.7–10.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.5–4.9 | 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 Hico
Is Hico a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hico is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hico?
CDC estimates 35.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.7% and 44.2%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hico?
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenvill in Stephenville, 19.3 miles in a straight line from Hico’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hico have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–16.1%), 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 Hico more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hico.
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.