Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Kilgore is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns
Kilgore trails Texas on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kilgore. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kilgore
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Kilgore
1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (6.9%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 3.9%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Kilgore runs above Texas on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Kilgore
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (24.5%), vs 21.2% across Texas. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.5%, vs 16.9% across Texas. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Kilgore
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
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 Kilgore’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Kilgore’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kilgore is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns, #409 of 641 in Texas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 46% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Kilgore’s median household income is $66,295; among the 10,128 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 28%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Kilgore adults…
Kilgore runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Kilgore residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
How Kilgore adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Kilgore runs above 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
3 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Kilgore
1 community health center in Kilgore, 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 Kilgore; ≈ 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 Kilgore 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.
17.4% of Kilgore adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Kilgore and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilgore | C− | 36.7% | 13.3% | 16% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kilgore adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kilgore
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kilgore is better than Texas on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Kilgore’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kilgore | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.8%22.2–27.7 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.8–17 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.7–21.4 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.7%30.3–43.4 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.9–14.8 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%33.7–40.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%32.5–39.4 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26%23.5–28.6 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.8–8 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.3–7.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%7.2–8.9 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.4%14–19 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%14–18.2 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%26.3–34.4 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%14.1–19 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.9%33.4–44.5 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.9%15.9–20 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.9%70.7–76.9 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.8%48.7–54.9 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.3%81.6–85 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%73.3–77.6 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%55.6–64 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.4%64.8–77.4 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%21.6–27.6 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.2%25.1–31.1 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.4%18.6–22 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.7%15.1–18.1 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.5%10.4–12.7 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.2%10.3–12.1 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.4%15.9–18.9 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.3%32.5–40.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17%15.1–19 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%16.1–19.7 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.2–7.4 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.6%9.6–11.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 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 Kilgore
Is Kilgore a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kilgore is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #409 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 28%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kilgore?
CDC estimates 36.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 43.4%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kilgore?
Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, 10.4 miles in a straight line from Kilgore’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kilgore have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.9–20%), 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 Kilgore 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 Kilgore.
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.