I.M. and Margaret Newman House · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Sweetwater is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Sweetwater differs from Texas on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sweetwater. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sweetwater
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Sweetwater
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.1%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 5.1%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Sweetwater runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Sweetwater is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Sweetwater is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Sweetwater
45.5% 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%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Sweetwater, and more people treating it
41.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 77.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. 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 Sweetwater’s likely range.
What’s behind Sweetwater’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sweetwater is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #599 of 641 in Texas. All seven of Sweetwater’s estimates fall in the lowest 15% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is fair or poor health: 32.2% of adults, against 21.8% across Texas and 19.4% nationally.
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). Sweetwater’s median household income is $44,892; among the 3,962 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$56K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Sweetwater adults…
Sweetwater runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sweetwater adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Sweetwater
1 hospital in Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater; ≈ 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.
1.2 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Sweetwater adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Sweetwater 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.
24% of Sweetwater adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Sweetwater and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater | D− | 41.8% | 18.1% | 18.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sweetwater adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sweetwater
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sweetwater is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Sweetwater’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sweetwater | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.2%28.9–35.5 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.7–20.9 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.4–21.5 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.8%32.9–50.4 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.1%15.9–20.3 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.5%37.1–45.6 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%35.4–44 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 29.1%25.8–32.3 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.8–8.3 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%8.2–10 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%9.3–11.5 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.6–5.5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.4%18.9–26.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%16.5–21.4 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.5%33.4–43.6 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.8%12.1–17.7 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.5%33.4–48.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 24.6%21.8–27.5 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.4%70.4–78 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.5%42–49.3 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%80.6–84.7 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%75.1–80.2 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.2%50.7–61.5 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.1%63.9–72.3 | 74.1% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.7%20.2–27.3 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.8%25.1–32.7 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.2%23.9–28.6 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.4%17.3–21.5 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.4%12–15 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%12.3–14.7 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24%21.9–26.2 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42%37.3–46.6 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.6%20.2–25.2 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.8%17.8–21.9 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.8–10.9 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%9.3–11 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%11.6–14.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%6.5–7.7 | 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 Sweetwater
Is Sweetwater a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sweetwater is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #599 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sweetwater?
CDC estimates 41.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 50.4%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sweetwater?
Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Sweetwater’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Sweetwater have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 24.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 21.8–27.5%), 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 Sweetwater more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sweetwater.
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.