Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Lufkin is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Lufkin differs from Texas on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lufkin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lufkin
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Lufkin
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.2% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.9%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Lufkin runs above Texas on ten of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Lufkin is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lufkin is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Lufkin
48.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 18.8% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Lufkin, and more people treating it
42.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 77.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. 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 Lufkin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Lufkin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lufkin is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, #557 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 33% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Lufkin’s median household income is $57,048; among the 8,049 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 13%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Lufkin adults…
Lufkin runs above TX on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lufkin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Lufkin
2 community health centers in Lufkin, 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 Lufkin; ≈ 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.
1.1 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
How Lufkin adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lufkin 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.4% of Lufkin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Lufkin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lufkin adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lufkin
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lufkin is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Lufkin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lufkin | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30%27.3–32.7 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.5–18.9 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.5–21.3 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.7%37.1–46.1 | 35.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.4–17.8 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.7%39.6–45.6 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%37.5–43.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 28.4%26–30.9 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10.1–12.5 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.6–7.8 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.3–5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.8%16.1–21.8 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%14.5–18.4 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35%31.5–38.5 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.3–16.8 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.2%38.1–46.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.5%18.4–22.6 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%73.2–79 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.4%45.4–51.5 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%83–86.3 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%75.5–80.1 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.5%55.3–63.6 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.7%68.7–80 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%20.2–25.6 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.9%27.6–34.3 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.6%22.5–26.6 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.3%17.5–21.2 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.9%12.4–15.4 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.8%11.7–14 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.4%19.6–23.3 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.2%37.7–44.6 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.6%19.6–23.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%16–19.6 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.3–9 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.2%7.6–8.9 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%10.3–12.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.4–6.4 | 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 Lufkin
Is Lufkin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lufkin is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health, #557 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 13%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lufkin?
CDC estimates 41.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 46.1%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lufkin?
CHI St. Lukes Health Memorial Lufkin in Lufkin, 5.4 miles in a straight line from Lufkin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lufkin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 18.4–22.6%), 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 Lufkin 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 Lufkin.
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.