Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Linden is healthier than 68%
Linden differs from Texas on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Linden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Linden
Linden is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Linden is healthier than 23%. Against the 3,556 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 68%. Health Grade ↓
COPD, cancer and stroke run high in Linden
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.9%), vs 6.1% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 5%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Linden runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Texas 13%), and COPD, cancer and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Linden, and more people treating it
43.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 81.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 24 miles from Linden
The closest emergency room is North Caddo Medical Center in Vivian, 24 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, East Texas Border Health Clinic is closer (13.2 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Linden keeps up with checkups
It beats Texas on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (78.4% vs 73.8%) and cholesterol checks (87.5% vs 84.6%). Checkups ↓
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 Linden’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Linden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Linden is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 43% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Linden’s median household income is $43,661; among the 3,556 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 68%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Linden compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Linden adults…
Linden runs above TX on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Linden is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Linden as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Linden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Linden
No hospital or community health center in Linden 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 Linden; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Linden 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.
14.8% of Linden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Linden and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linden | C− | 38.1% | 15.9% | 15.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Linden adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Linden
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Linden is better than Texas on 6 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Linden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Linden | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.7%21.5–28.2 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.1–18.3 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.4–19.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%29.9–46.8 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.9%13.8–18.2 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.5%39.1–48 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.9%36.4–45.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 32.5%28.9–36.3 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–11 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.3–11 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.5–5.5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.3%15–21.8 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5%13.1–18.2 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.2%25.3–35.7 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.6–17.1 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.8%32.8–47.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.5%11.4–16 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%74.9–81.7 | 73.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.4%49.5–57.3 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.5%85.8–89 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.2%78.7–83.5 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.5%59.4–69.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%65.6–80.9 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%19.4–26.6 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.6%24–31.5 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.6%15.9–19.5 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14%12.5–15.6 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8.8–11.1 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.7–10.5 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.8%13.2–16.5 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5%32.7–42.6 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.9%17.3–22.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.9–18 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8–10.3 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%9.1–11.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 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 Linden
Is Linden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Linden is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Linden?
CDC estimates 38.1% 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 Linden?
North Caddo Medical Center in Vivian, 24.0 miles in a straight line from Linden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Linden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.4–16%), 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 Linden 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 Linden.
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.