Photo: The original uploader was Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Panhandle is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns
Panhandle differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Panhandle. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Panhandle
Cancer and arthritis run high in Panhandle
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.3%), vs 6.1% across Texas. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (26.6%), vs 21.6% across Texas. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Panhandle
The closest emergency room is Golden Plains Community Hospital in Borger, 21.3 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Panhandle keeps up with checkups
It beats Texas on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (64.1% vs 54.6%) and cholesterol checks (87.9% vs 84.6%). Checkups ↓
Panhandle is short on primary care and mental health care
Panhandle’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 ↓
Fewer Panhandle adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Texas. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 5 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Panhandle’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Panhandle’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Panhandle is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 75% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 61%.
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). Panhandle’s median household income is $85,870; among the 10,322 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 77%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Panhandle adults…
Panhandle runs below TX on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Panhandle
No hospital or community health center in Panhandle 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 Panhandle; ≈ 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 Panhandle adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8% of Panhandle adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Panhandle 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.
Panhandle and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panhandle | B+ | 32.9% | 11% | 12% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Panhandle adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Panhandle
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Panhandle is better than Texas on 13 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Panhandle’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Panhandle | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.2%14.4–20.1 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%10.9–14.5 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.1–18.5 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.9%25–41.3 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.3–12.6 | 12.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%30.3–38.8 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.2–42 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.6%23.2–29.9 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.3 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.3–7.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.2%6.5–10.1 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12%9.4–14.6 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.7%18.3–27.3 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%14.9–21.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.3%28.4–42.5 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8.1–12.3 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%72–79.4 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.1%60.6–67.6 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.9%85.9–89.7 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%74.6–80.4 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.2%59–69.1 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%73.9–80.4 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.4%19.9–27.1 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.5–28.6 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%9–11.7 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%6–7.9 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6.3–7.7 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8%7–9.1 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.2%24.7–33.7 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.2%11–15.4 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.1%11–15.2 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.6–4.8 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.1–8.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.7–3.7 | 4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Panhandle
Is Panhandle a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Panhandle is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 77%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Panhandle?
CDC estimates 32.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 25% and 41.3%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Panhandle?
Golden Plains Community Hospital in Borger, 21.3 miles in a straight line from Panhandle’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Panhandle have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–12.3%), 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 Panhandle more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Panhandle.
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.