On CDC estimates, Taft Southwest is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Taft Southwest differs from Texas on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Taft Southwest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Taft Southwest
Dental care lags in Taft Southwest
34.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 21.5% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
More Taft Southwest adults get no exercise
45.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
Diabetes, heart disease and stroke run high in Taft Southwest
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (22.2%), vs 12.7% across Texas. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Taft Southwest runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Taft Southwest’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Taft Southwest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Taft Southwest is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 58% 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). Taft Southwest’s median household income is $55,938; among the 7,714 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Taft Southwest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
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.
Out of every 100 Taft Southwest adults…
Taft Southwest runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Taft Southwest
No hospital or community health center in Taft Southwest 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 Taft Southwest; ≈ 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 Taft Southwest adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Taft Southwest 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.
31% of Taft Southwest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Taft Southwest and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taft Southwest | D | 44.9% | 22.2% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Taft | D | 44.8% | 19.9% | 16.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Taft Southwest adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Taft Southwest
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Taft Southwest is better than Texas on 3 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Taft Southwest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Taft Southwest | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 37.8%32.2–43.1 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.3–21.8 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.4–18.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.9%37.1–52.4 | 35.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 22.2%19.3–25.1 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.4%38.1–46.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.4%38–46.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 25.7%22.5–28.9 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 8.9%7.7–10.1 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–6.1 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.6–10.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7%5.7–8.3 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.6%4–5.3 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.5%17.6–26 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%11.5–17 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 45.7%39.1–52.2 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%10.8–16 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.4%37.1–49.9 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 38%31.5–44.7 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.4%69.2–77.2 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 34.3%31–37.8 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%79.9–85.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%75.2–80.4 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 49.1%43.7–54.6 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%62.9–78.6 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.8%14.9–20.9 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.5%29.5–37.6 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 37.5%34.6–40.5 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.1%23.7–28.8 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.7%14.9–18.7 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.4%15.9–19.1 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31%28.2–33.8 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44%38.1–49.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24%20.4–27.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.2%16–22.2 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.5–11.3 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 12.6%10.6–14.5 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%9.7–13.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.2–8.7 | 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 Taft Southwest
Is Taft Southwest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Taft Southwest is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Taft Southwest?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 52.4%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Taft Southwest?
Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, 14.0 miles in a straight line from Taft Southwest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Taft Southwest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 38% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 31.5–44.7%), 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 Taft Southwest 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 Taft Southwest.
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.