Roma Historic District · Photo: Eugene George, Jr., Photographer · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Roma is healthier than 50%
Roma differs from Texas on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Roma. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Roma
More Roma adults get no exercise
1 in 2 adults get no exercise outside work (51.5%), about twice the Texas rate. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Roma
34.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 27.5% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Roma’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Diabetes, heart disease and stroke run high in Roma
1 in 4 adults have diabetes (24.9%), about twice the Texas rate. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.2%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 5.7%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Roma runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Roma is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Roma is healthier than 3%. Against the 202 towns with similar household incomes ($18K–$31K), it’s healthier than 50%. 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 Roma’s likely range.
What’s behind Roma’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Roma is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #614 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 20% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Roma’s median household income is $24,579; among the 202 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($18K–$31K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Where Roma compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.1% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.4% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
5.9 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Roma adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Out of every 100 Roma adults…
Roma runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Roma
1 community health center in Roma, 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 Roma; ≈ 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).
How Roma adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Roma 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.
41.3% of Roma adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Roma and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 Roma adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Roma
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Roma is better than Texas on 3 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Roma’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Roma | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 45.4%40.6–49.9 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.7%20–25.4 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.8–21.4 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.5%38–54.9 | 35.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 24.9%22.1–27.6 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.2%38–46.4 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.9–45.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.2–30.5 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.2%9.1–11.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%8.1–10.6 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.5%23.3–32.3 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%15.4–21 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 51.5%45.5–57.3 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10.1–14.8 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.8%33.7–48.6 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 44.9%39.5–50.2 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.1%69.3–76.8 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 34.4%31.1–37.8 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.4%76.9–81.8 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.3%74.8–79.6 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 46.4%41–52.2 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.7%56.6–74.5 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%17.8–24.4 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.3%28.6–36.2 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 43.8%41.1–46.6 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 30.3%27.7–33 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 20.5%18.5–22.6 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 21.4%19.7–23 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 41.3%38.5–44.1 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50%44.7–55.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 29.6%26.3–32.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.9%21–26.8 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.3%10–12.5 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 18.2%16.4–20.1 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.1%14.1–18.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 10.8%9.6–12 | 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 Roma
Is Roma a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Roma is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #614 of 641 in Texas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Roma?
CDC estimates 46.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 38% and 54.9%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Roma?
Starr County Memorial Hospital in Rio Grande City, 9.1 miles in a straight line from Roma’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Roma have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 39.5–50.2%), 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 Roma 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 Roma.
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.