Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Port Arthur is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Port Arthur differs from Texas on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Port Arthur. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Port Arthur
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Port Arthur
1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.4%), vs 3.2% across Texas. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.6%), vs 5.7% across Texas. Diabetes is also above the state: 19.7%, vs 12.7% across Texas. In all, Port Arthur runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Port Arthur is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Port Arthur is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Port Arthur
42.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 23.9% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Port Arthur, and more people treating it
42.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 77.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. 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 Port Arthur’s likely range.
What’s behind Port Arthur’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Port Arthur is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #625 of 641 in Texas. All seven of Port Arthur’s estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is fair or poor health: 34.9% of adults, against 21.8% across Texas and 19.4% nationally.
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). Port Arthur’s median household income is $46,354; among the 4,458 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 6%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Port Arthur compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Out of every 100 Port Arthur adults…
Port Arthur runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Port Arthur adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Port Arthur
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Port Arthur, 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 Port Arthur; ≈ 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.
18 miles of trails across 24 parks and preserves
How Port Arthur adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Port Arthur 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.
31.7% of Port Arthur adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Port Arthur and the towns around it
Port Arthur’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Arthur | D− | 45.3% | 19.7% | 19.8% | CDC place |
| Port Neches | B+ | 33.7% | 10.9% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Groves | C | 37.7% | 13.2% | 15.2% | CDC place |
| Nederland | B− | 35.2% | 11.4% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Beauxart Gardens | A− | 32.9% | 10.1% | 11.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Port Arthur adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Port Arthur
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Port Arthur is better than Texas on 3 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Port Arthur’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Port Arthur | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.9%31.6–38.3 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.2–20.2 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.4%18.2–22.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.3%37.2–53.8 | 35.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.7%17.5–22 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.9%38.6–47.2 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%32.3–41 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%23.7–29.9 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.6 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.3–8.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%5–5.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.9%20.4–27.7 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.8%17.4–22.3 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.5%35.3–45.9 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11–16.4 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.2%38.2–48.1 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 26.9%24.4–29.5 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%71.2–78.8 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 42.6%39.3–45.9 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.5%79.5–83.4 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.7–79.7 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54.9%50–59.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68%60.4–74.8 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%17.9–24.6 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.8%30.2–37.6 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 34.6%32–37.2 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.9%23.6–28.4 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.5%16.7–20.4 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.2%15.8–18.6 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.7%29.3–34.2 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.7%38.1–47.5 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.3%20.9–25.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.7%18.7–22.8 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.2%10.4–12.1 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.7%12.5–15.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.9%7.3–8.5 | 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 Port Arthur
Is Port Arthur a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Port Arthur is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #625 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 6%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Port Arthur?
CDC estimates 45.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.2% and 53.8%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Port Arthur?
The Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur, 3.1 miles in a straight line from Port Arthur’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Port Arthur have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 26.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 24.4–29.5%), 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 Port Arthur more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Port Arthur.
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.