On CDC estimates, Primera is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns
Primera differs from Texas on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Primera. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Primera
Making ends meet is harder in Primera
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (27.7%), vs 19.3% across Texas. Housing insecurity (22.9% vs 16.4%) and no reliable transportation (13.9% vs 10.5%) are higher too. 21.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 3 working-age adults in Primera has no health insurance
31.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 19.1% across Texas. Checkups ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Primera
Primera runs below Texas on cancer (4.3% vs 6.1%), arthritis (16.9% vs 21.6%) and COPD (4.5% vs 5.7%). A young population is part of it: only 8% of residents are 65 or older (Texas 13%). 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 Primera’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind Primera’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Primera is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns, #284 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 82% 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). Primera’s median household income is $80,116; among the 10,750 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 36%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Primera compares well: high blood pressure, 29.1% (U.S. 34.4%); arthritis, 16.9% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.4% of Primera adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Primera adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Out of every 100 Primera adults…
Primera runs below TX on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Primera residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. COPD, arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Primera
No hospital or community health center in Primera 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 Primera; ≈ 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.
How Primera adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Primera 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.
Primera and the towns around it
Primera has the best Health Grade of the 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Primera adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Primera
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Primera is better than Texas on 4 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Primera’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Primera | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.2%22.3–28.3 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.2–15.5 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14–17.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.7%33.2–42.6 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.7%13–16.4 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 29.1%26.3–31.9 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%30.7–37.1 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 16.9%15–18.9 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.5%7.5–9.5 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.1%10–14.5 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11%9.4–12.9 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.2%27.3–35.3 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%14.9–20.6 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39%34.5–43.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 31.7%27.3–36.2 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.5%66.9–73.8 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%53–59.3 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%82.1–86.3 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%69.8–75.8 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54.7%50.3–58.8 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%70.5–81.9 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.6%16.1–21.2 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.6%29.3–35.9 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.7%25.5–30.1 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.9%20.8–25.1 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.9%12.4–15.5 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.9%12.7–15.1 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.4%19.5–23.5 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31%27.5–34.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%12.5–16.2 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%14.1–18.2 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.3–9.1 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.6–9.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 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 Primera
Is Primera a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Primera is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #284 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 36%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Primera?
CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.2% and 42.6%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Primera?
Harlingen Medical Center in Harlingen, 5.7 miles in a straight line from Primera’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Primera have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 31.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 27.3–36.2%), 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 Primera more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Primera.
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.