Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Murchison residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Murchison, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Murchison. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Murchison
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Murchison
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.3%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Cancer is also above the state: 9.5%, vs 6.1% across Texas. In all, Murchison 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, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Murchison
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.8%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
In Murchison, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 15.6% of working-age adults are uninsured (Texas 19.1%), yet 26.3% say their health is fair or poor, vs 21.8% across the state. 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 Murchison’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Murchison adults…
Murchison runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Murchison 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 Murchison as about how healthy they are.
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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Murchison adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Murchison
No hospital or community health center in Murchison 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 Murchison; ≈ 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 Murchison adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Murchison 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.
15.4% of Murchison adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Murchison 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 Murchison adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Murchison
Why doesn’t Murchison have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Murchison.
What hospital is closest to Murchison?
UT Health East Texas Athens Hospital in Athens, 8.8 miles in a straight line from Murchison’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Murchison?
3 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Family Circle of Care Athens Clinic in Athens, 6.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Murchison.
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.