Photo: Theunderratedtaco · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, McAllen as a whole is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns
McAllen differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for McAllen. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in McAllen
Making ends meet is harder in McAllen
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.1%), vs 19.3% across Texas. Housing insecurity (21.2% vs 16.4%) and no reliable transportation (13.5% vs 10.5%) are higher too. 22.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
3 in 10 working-age adults in McAllen have no health insurance
30.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 19.1% across Texas. Checkups ↓
Dental care lags in McAllen
49.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 15.4% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
McAllen has a top-rated hospital
Rio Grande Regional Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 McAllen’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B−.
What’s behind McAllen’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, McAllen is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns, #379 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 81% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). McAllen’s median household income is $61,579; among the 9,300 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where McAllen compares well: asthma, 8.4% (U.S. 9.9%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 150,640 residents, McAllen is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.3% of McAllen adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Keeping up with care
Share of McAllen adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near McAllen
1 hospital in McAllen, 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 McAllen; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 McAllen adults…
McAllen runs below TX on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
23 miles of trails across 45 parks and preserves
How McAllen 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.
McAllen and the towns around it
McAllen’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen | C | 41.8% | 16.5% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Edinburg | C | 42.5% | 14.4% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Pharr | D | 44.8% | 17.7% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Mission | C | 41.5% | 16% | 11% | CDC place |
| Granjeno | — | — | — | — | |
| Hidalgo | C− | 43.8% | 16.5% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Alton | D | 45.8% | 17.1% | 14.5% | CDC place |
Granjeno: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of McAllen adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for McAllen
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, McAllen is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside McAllen’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | McAllen | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.8%26.6–31.2 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.6–16.4 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.8–17.9 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.8%37.5–46.3 | 35.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.5%15–18.1 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.9%30.3–35.7 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.8%32.9–38.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.5%18.6–22.6 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.9%4.5–5.4 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.2–3.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.4%13.1–17.9 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%10–12.6 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 32.8%29.7–35.9 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%14.5–19.4 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2%34.1–42.3 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 30.3%28–32.8 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.5%70.5–76.4 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.6%46.5–52.6 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%82–85.3 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%73–77.9 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.7%51.5–59.8 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.6%65.1–77.4 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.3%17–21.8 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.3%26.3–32.4 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.1%25.1–29.1 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.2%19.3–23.1 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.7%12.3–15.1 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.5%12.4–14.6 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.3%20.6–24.1 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35%32.1–38 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%15.9–19.1 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%15.2–18.1 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.6%9–10.2 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.9–10.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.3–6.1 | 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 McAllen
Is McAllen a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, McAllen is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: C for health, #379 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in McAllen?
CDC estimates 41.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.5% and 46.3%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to McAllen?
Rio Grande Regional Hospital in Mcallen, 3.0 miles in a straight line from McAllen’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in McAllen have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 30.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 28–32.8%), 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 McAllen more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in McAllen.
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.