Gage Hotel · Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainWhere Marathon residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Marathon, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Marathon. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Marathon
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Marathon
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.8%), vs 6.1% across Texas. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.5%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Arthritis is also above the state: 26.7%, vs 21.6% across Texas. In all, Marathon runs above Texas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Marathon is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Marathon’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
The nearest ER is 28 miles from Marathon
The closest emergency room is Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine, 28.4 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Marathon, and more people treating it
37.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 80.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Marathon keeps up with checkups
It beats Texas on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (77.9% vs 73.8%) and dentist visits (65.1% vs 54.6%). 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 Marathon’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Marathon adults…
Marathon runs below TX on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Marathon
No hospital or community health center in Marathon 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 Marathon; ≈ 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 Marathon 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.
How Marathon adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Marathon 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6% of Marathon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Marathon and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Marathon adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Marathon
Why doesn’t Marathon have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Marathon.
What hospital is closest to Marathon?
Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine, 28.4 miles in a straight line from Marathon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Marathon.
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. 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.