Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, San Marcos is healthier than 94%
San Marcos differs from Texas on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for San Marcos. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in San Marcos
San Marcos is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, San Marcos is healthier than 63%. Against the 6,228 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 94%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in San Marcos
22.3% of adults are in frequent mental distress, vs 16.9% across Texas. Depression is above the state too: 25.6%, vs 21.2% across Texas. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in San Marcos
San Marcos runs below Texas on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3.6% vs 6.1%), diabetes (7.9% vs 12.7%) and stroke (2% vs 3.2%). Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in San Marcos
1 in 7 adults lack reliable transportation (15.3%), vs 10.5% across Texas. Food insecurity (23.9% vs 19.3%) is higher too. 19.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
San Marcos has a top-rated hospital
Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 San Marcos’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind San Marcos’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, San Marcos is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #195 of 641 in Texas. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). San Marcos’ median household income is $51,281; among the 6,228 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 94%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How San Marcos adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, San Marcos 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.
Out of every 100 San Marcos adults…
San Marcos runs below TX on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of San Marcos residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.1% of San Marcos adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Care in and near San Marcos
1 hospital and 1 community health center in San Marcos, 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 San Marcos; ≈ 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.
37 miles of trails across 37 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of San Marcos adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
San Marcos and the towns around it
San Marcos’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos | B | 33.6% | 7.9% | 11% | CDC place |
| Kyle | B+ | 35.7% | 9.8% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Redwood | C | 37.5% | 15.3% | 12.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of San Marcos adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for San Marcos
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, San Marcos is better than Texas on 8 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside San Marcos’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | San Marcos | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%18.4–23.5 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.9%10.5–13.4 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.3%20–24.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%27.5–40.2 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.9%6.8–9 | 12.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23%20.2–26.1 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 25.6%22.5–28.9 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 13.9%12.1–15.7 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.9 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.6%3.2–4 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.6%3.2–4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2%1.8–2.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.6%12.1–17.6 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11%9.5–12.6 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%21.4–29.2 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.7%16.3–23.4 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.6%31.3–42.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 19.7%17.4–22 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.5%62.9–71.8 | 73.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.4%46.8–54.1 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 74.1%71.2–76.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 60.6%57.9–63.1 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.9%54.1–63.9 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70%62.1–77.7 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%22.1–29.5 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.9%25.4–32.5 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.9%21.7–26 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.6%16.6–20.6 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.7–13.6 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.3%14–16.6 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.1%17.1–21 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.8%28.8–37.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.6%18.6–22.9 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%3–3.5 | 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 San Marcos
Is San Marcos a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, San Marcos is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #195 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 San Marcos?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.5% and 40.2%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to San Marcos?
Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos in San Marcos, 1.6 miles in a straight line from San Marcos’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in San Marcos have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 19.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 17.4–22%), 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 San Marcos more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in San Marcos.
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.