Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Palmer is healthier than 7%
Palmer differs from Texas on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Palmer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Palmer
Depression is more common in Palmer
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.5%), vs 21.2% across Texas. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 20.2%, vs 16.9% across Texas. Mind & connection ↓
Palmer trails towns with similar incomes
Palmer is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns, and only 7% of the 7,950 towns with similar household incomes ($78K–$130K), so income alone doesn’t explain its grade. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Palmer
49.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 18.4% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). 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 Palmer’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Palmer’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palmer is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns, #358 of 641 in Texas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 67% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Palmer’s median household income is $104,258; among the 7,950 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$130K), it’s healthier than 7%, less than its income alone would suggest.
How Palmer adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Palmer 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Palmer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Out of every 100 Palmer adults…
Palmer runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of Palmer residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Diabetes run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Palmer
No hospital or community health center in Palmer 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 Palmer; ≈ 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).
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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.2% of Palmer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Palmer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Palmer adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Palmer
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Palmer is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Palmer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Palmer | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.4–27 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.7–16.5 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.2%17.8–22.6 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%30.7–45.7 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.4–12.6 | 12.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.2%27.3–35 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.2%30.2–38.4 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.2%18.5–24 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.8 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6.1 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.6–7.4 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.4%15.2–21.7 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%13.6–18.8 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.4%24.5–34.4 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.9%15.7–22.4 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.1%35.7–48.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.9%17.7–24.3 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.8%65.5–73.9 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.6%46–53.3 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.8%78.1–83.1 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.2%66–72.3 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54.8%49.5–59.9 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.2%63–78.7 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%21.9–29.4 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.8%25.2–32.7 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.9%18.9–23 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.1%16.2–20.2 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.9%10.5–13.4 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.7%10.6–12.8 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.2%14.6–18 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.8%29.1–38.5 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.8%11.9–15.8 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%16.2–20.9 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.4–7 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.3–6.7 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Palmer
Is Palmer a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palmer is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #358 of 641 in Texas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Palmer?
CDC estimates 38.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 45.7%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Palmer?
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center- Waxahachie in Waxahachie, 7.6 miles in a straight line from Palmer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Palmer have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 17.7–24.3%), 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 Palmer 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 Palmer.
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.