Photo: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Odessa as a whole is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns
Odessa differs from Texas on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Odessa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Odessa
Making ends meet is harder in Odessa
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.4%), vs 19.3% across Texas. Housing insecurity (19.8% vs 16.4%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Odessa is short on primary care and mental health care
Odessa’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
1 in 4 working-age adults in Odessa has no health insurance
25.4% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 19.1% across Texas. 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 Odessa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Odessa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Odessa is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns, #360 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 58% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). Odessa’s median household income is $73,472; among the 10,777 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 28%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Odessa compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 122,707 residents, Odessa 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.
17.7% of Odessa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Care in and near Odessa
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Odessa, 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 Odessa; ≈ 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 Odessa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Out of every 100 Odessa adults…
Odessa runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Odessa residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
22 miles of trails across 41 parks and preserves
How Odessa 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.
Odessa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | C | 39.4% | 12.9% | 14% | CDC place |
| West Odessa | C− | 41% | 13.5% | 15.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Odessa adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Odessa
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Odessa is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Odessa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Odessa | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.3%22.8–28 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.8–16 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.1–20 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.4%32–47.4 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11.4–14.6 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.2%27.7–35 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.6%29.8–37.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.6%18.2–23.3 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.9–5.9 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–6.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.3 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.9%12.5–17.5 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%12.3–15.9 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31%26.8–35.6 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15.1–21.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38%32.2–43.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 25.4%23–27.9 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.9%65.8–73.9 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.9%47.6–54.1 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%80.4–84.2 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.2%69.3–75.1 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.5%50.9–60.1 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%63.7–77.6 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%18.5–25 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.4%26.7–34.2 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.4%21.3–25.5 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.8%17.8–21.9 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%11.1–13.9 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.4%11.3–13.5 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.7%15.9–19.5 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.3%29.5–37.4 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%13.2–16.6 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%15.5–19 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.7–7.1 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.6–7.7 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.3–10.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.2–4.9 | 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 Odessa
Is Odessa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Odessa is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #360 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 28%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Odessa?
CDC estimates 39.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 32% and 47.4%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Odessa?
Odessa Regional Medical Center in Odessa, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Odessa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Odessa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 25.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 23–27.9%), 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 Odessa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Odessa.
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.