Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Ponder is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
Ponder differs from Texas on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ponder. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ponder
Binge drinking is the habit Ponder doesn’t win on
21.6% of adults binge drink, vs 17% across Texas, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Ponder is an active town
Only 18% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Ponder
Ponder runs below Texas on five chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.3% vs 12.7%), stroke (1.9% vs 3.2%) and heart disease (3.4% vs 5.6%). Conditions ↓
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 Ponder’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Ponder’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ponder is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #78 of 641 in Texas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Ponder’s median household income is $106,250; among the 7,716 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($80K–$133K), it’s healthier than 82%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
1 mile of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Ponder adults…
Ponder runs below TX on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Ponder residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Ponder
No hospital or community health center in Ponder 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 Ponder; ≈ 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 Ponder adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Ponder adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Ponder does better than 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.
6.7% of Ponder adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Ponder and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponder | A | 33.6% | 7.3% | 10% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ponder adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ponder
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ponder is better than Texas on 18 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Ponder’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ponder | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.5%11.5–15.8 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10%8.6–11.5 | 13.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.3–19.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%28.2–39.6 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.3%6.2–8.4 | 12.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24.9%21.9–28.2 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%28.8–36.2 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 18.7%16.3–21.2 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.4%3–3.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.8%3.2–4.4 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.9%1.7–2.1 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.6%5.3–8.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%8–12.2 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18%14.9–21.6 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.6%18.3–25.3 | 17% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.1%30.8–39.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%8.2–12 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.5%67.5–75.3 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.3%63.3–69.4 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.4–87.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67%63.3–70.6 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.6%54.2–63.2 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.9%72.7–84.5 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.9–27.8 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24%21.1–27.1 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.2%9–11.4 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.7%9.4–12 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6.2–8 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.6%6–7.3 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.3%20–27.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.4%7.2–9.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%10.8–14.5 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.4%3.8–4.9 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.7–3.4 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.8%5–6.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 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 Ponder
Is Ponder a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ponder is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #78 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 82%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ponder?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.2% and 39.6%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ponder?
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton in Denton, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Ponder’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ponder have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–12%), 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 Ponder more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ponder.
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.