Anderson House and Store · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Salado is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns
Salado differs from Texas on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salado. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salado
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Salado
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.6%), about twice the Texas rate. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (32.5%), vs 21.6% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.3%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Salado runs above Texas on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (Texas 13%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Salado keeps up with checkups
It beats Texas on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (82.1% vs 73.8%) and dentist visits (68.5% vs 54.6%). Checkups ↓
Nearly everyone in Salado is insured
Only 7.4% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 19.1% across Texas. 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 Salado’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Salado’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salado is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #114 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 95% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). Salado’s median household income is $107,679; among the 7,512 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$135K), it’s healthier than 66%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Salado adults…
Salado runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Salado is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Salado as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salado adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Salado
No hospital or community health center in Salado 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 Salado; ≈ 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.
1.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Salado adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Salado 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.
4.6% of Salado adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Salado and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salado | A− | 35.2% | 12.3% | 8.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salado adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salado
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salado is better than Texas on 17 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Salado’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salado | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.5%13.3–18 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.2%10.6–13.9 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.5–14.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.2%30.5–40 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.7–14.1 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.2%34.6–41.8 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%35.9–43.4 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 32.5%29.3–35.7 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.5–10.8 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.6%11.4–13.9 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.1%5–7.2 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.1–4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.5%7–10.4 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.2%6.7–9.9 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21.5%18.3–25 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%11.2–15.6 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%29.9–38.3 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.4%6.2–9 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%79.5–84.5 | 73.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.5%65.6–71.3 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92%90.7–93.1 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.9%79.1–84.3 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.8%70–77.4 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%71.3–83.1 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%19.9–25.9 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.8%16.6–21.3 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.4%4–4.9 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30%26.5–33.7 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14%11.9–16.2 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.4%9–11.8 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.1%5.2–7.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.3 | 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 Salado
Is Salado a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salado is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #114 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 66%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Salado?
CDC estimates 35.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 40%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salado?
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights in Harker Heights, 9.9 miles in a straight line from Salado’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Salado have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–9%), 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 Salado 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 Salado.
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.