Where Santa Cruz residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Santa Cruz, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 78582. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Santa Cruz
More Santa Cruz adults get no exercise
46.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Santa Cruz
37.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 22.4% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Santa Cruz’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Santa Cruz
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (41.4%), about twice the Texas rate. No reliable transportation (20.2% vs 10.5%) and housing insecurity (30.4% vs 16.4%) are higher too. 36.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Santa Cruz’s likely range; Santa Cruz’s figures come from ZIP code 78582, which may reach past town lines.
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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Santa Cruz adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
36.2% of Santa Cruz adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Out of every 100 Santa Cruz adults…
Santa Cruz runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Santa Cruz is an older town: 65% of residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Heart disease, COPD and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Santa Cruz as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Santa Cruz
No hospital or community health center in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz; ≈ 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 Santa Cruz adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Santa Cruz 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.
Santa Cruz 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande City | D− | 45% | 20.9% | 17.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Santa Cruz adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Santa Cruz
Why doesn’t Santa Cruz have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Santa Cruz.
What hospital is closest to Santa Cruz?
Starr County Memorial Hospital in Rio Grande City, 5.9 miles in a straight line from Santa Cruz’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Santa Cruz?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Nuestra Clinica Del Valle - Rio Grande City in Rio Grande City, 3.5 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Santa Cruz.
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. 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.