Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Kerens is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns
Kerens differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kerens. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kerens
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Kerens
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.7%), vs 3.2% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.2%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Kerens runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Kerens, and more people treating it
41.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 79.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Kerens
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.9%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
Kerens is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Kerens is healthier than 19%. Against the 7,949 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 34%. 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 Kerens’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Kerens’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kerens is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 39% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Kerens’ median household income is $56,771; among the 7,949 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Kerens compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Kerens adults…
Kerens runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Kerens adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
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.
Care in and near Kerens
No hospital or community health center in Kerens 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 Kerens; ≈ 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).
How Kerens 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.
19.3% of Kerens adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Kerens and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kerens adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kerens
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kerens is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Kerens’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kerens | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.3%21.6–29.3 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.6–18 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.1–20.6 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.2%29.9–46.8 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.2%14–18.5 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.8%37.5–46.4 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%34.6–43.6 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%26.2–33.3 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.5 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.1–9.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9%7.6–10.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24%19.9–28.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.9%13.2–19 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.2%25.8–36.8 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.4–18 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%32.4–47.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.1%12.6–17.9 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.2%73.5–80.6 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52%48–55.8 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.7–87.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%76.9–81.8 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.7%55.1–66 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.4%61.3–78.6 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%19.7–27 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.8%25.1–32.8 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.5%19.5–23.6 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.3%15.5–19.3 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%11–13.9 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.5%10.5–12.6 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.3%17.4–21.2 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.1%31.9–42.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.2%16.2–22.2 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.4–19 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.1–8 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.6%9.1–12.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 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 Kerens
Is Kerens a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kerens is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kerens?
CDC estimates 38.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.9% and 46.8%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kerens?
Navarro Regional Hospital in Corsicana, 18.0 miles in a straight line from Kerens’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kerens have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.6–17.9%), 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 Kerens 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 Kerens.
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.