Photo: Leaflet · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Morton is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Morton differs from Texas on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Morton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Morton
Dental care lags in Morton
38.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 24.7% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Morton’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More Morton adults get no exercise
43.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
COPD, heart disease and diabetes run high in Morton
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.2%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Diabetes is also above the state: 20.5%, vs 12.7% across Texas. In all, Morton runs above Texas on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Morton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Morton is healthier than 4%. Against the 1,974 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 29%. Health Grade ↓
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 Morton’s likely range.
What’s behind Morton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morton is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 21% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Morton’s median household income is $38,438; among the 1,974 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Morton 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Morton adults…
Morton runs above TX on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Morton
1 hospital in Morton, 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 Morton; ≈ 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).
How Morton adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Morton 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.
32.6% of Morton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Morton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morton | D− | 43% | 20.5% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Morton adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Morton
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Morton is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Morton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Morton | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 36.8%32.4–41.3 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.2–22.3 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.5–21.2 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43%33.8–52 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 20.5%17.9–23 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.1%36.7–45.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%35.3–44.3 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 27.3%23.9–30.5 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.3 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.1–10.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%8.2–10.7 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.5–5.6 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.7%20.8–29.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18%15.2–21 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 43.4%37.3–49.5 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.3–16.8 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.4%34.9–50.5 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 34.5%28.8–40.1 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.6%69.3–77.3 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 38.5%34.9–42.2 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.9%79–84.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%74.8–80.1 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.2%47.4–59 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.5%58.2–76 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.5–25.5 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.9%28.8–37.1 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36.6%33.7–39.5 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.2%23.7–28.7 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.2%15.3–19.2 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.7%16.2–19.3 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.6%29.8–35.4 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.4%39–49.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.4%21.3–27.6 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.8%18–23.6 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.2%11.5–15.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.9%6.9–8.9 | 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 Morton
Is Morton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morton is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Morton?
CDC estimates 43% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.8% and 52%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Morton?
Cochran Memorial Hospital in Morton, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Morton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Morton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 34.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 28.8–40.1%), 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 Morton 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 Morton.
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.