Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Robert Lee is healthier than 86%
Robert Lee differs from Texas on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Robert Lee. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Robert Lee
Heart disease, COPD and cancer run high in Robert Lee
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.2%), vs 5.6% across Texas. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.3%), vs 5.7% across Texas. Cancer is also above the state: 10.8%, vs 6.1% across Texas. In all, Robert Lee runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (Texas 13%), and heart disease, COPD and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 30 miles from Robert Lee
The closest emergency room is Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, 29.9 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Dental care lags in Robert Lee
49.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 19.1% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Robert Lee, and more people treating it
43.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 81.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Robert Lee is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Robert Lee is healthier than 24%. Against the 1,125 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 86%. Health Grade ↓
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 Robert Lee’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Robert Lee’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Robert Lee is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 56% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Robert Lee’s median household income is $34,172; among the 1,125 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 86%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Robert Lee compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Robert Lee adults…
Robert Lee runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Robert Lee is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Robert Lee as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Robert Lee
No hospital or community health center in Robert Lee 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 Robert Lee; ≈ 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 Robert Lee adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Robert Lee 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.1% of Robert Lee adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Robert Lee and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Lee | C− | 36.1% | 16.8% | 14.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Robert Lee adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Robert Lee
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Robert Lee is better than Texas on 8 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Robert Lee’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Robert Lee | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.9%22.8–31.7 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%14.8–19.9 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.6–18.9 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.1%27.4–44.7 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.8%14.5–19.4 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.4%38.7–47.9 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.5%37.7–47 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.3%29.5–37.1 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.8%9.6–12 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.2%8.8–11.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%8.3–12.4 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.5–6.1 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.1%15.9–23.1 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%12.1–18 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 33.1%27.3–39.5 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.2–16.4 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%30.3–45 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.2%14.1–20.6 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%74–81 | 73.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.5%45.9–53.4 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85–88.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.9%79.2–84.1 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%58.8–69.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%67–82.3 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.5%18.9–26.2 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.7%22.4–29.5 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.6%15.8–19.5 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.4%11–13.9 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.8%7.8–10 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.4%8.5–10.3 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.1%13.5–16.9 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40%34.6–45.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.9%18.5–25.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%13.7–18.8 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.4%9.9–13 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.7%6.6–9 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.2–13 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%4.7–6.6 | 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 Robert Lee
Is Robert Lee a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Robert Lee is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Robert Lee?
CDC estimates 36.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.4% and 44.7%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Robert Lee?
Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, 29.9 miles in a straight line from Robert Lee’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Robert Lee have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–20.6%), 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 Robert Lee 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 Robert Lee.
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.