Photo: Jay Phagan from Taft, Texas · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Taft is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns
Taft differs from Texas on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Taft. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Taft
Dental care lags in Taft
39.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 24.2% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
More Taft adults get no exercise
43.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Taft
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (39.8%), about twice the Texas rate. No reliable transportation (18.7% vs 10.5%) and utility shut-off threats (18.2% vs 10.7%) are higher too. 34.9% 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 Taft’s likely range.
What’s behind Taft’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Taft is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns, #578 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 34% 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’s median household income is $73,032; among the 10,746 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$91K), it’s healthier than 2%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Taft 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.
0.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
34.9% of Taft adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Out of every 100 Taft adults…
Taft runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Taft residents are 65 or older, vs 13% across Texas. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Taft
No hospital or community health center in Taft 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; ≈ 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 adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Taft 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.
Taft and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taft | D | 44.8% | 19.9% | 16.4% | CDC place |
| Taft Southwest | D | 44.9% | 22.2% | 14.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Taft adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Taft
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Taft is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Taft’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Taft | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 36.1%31.5–41 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.5–21.6 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%15.9–20.4 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.8%37.1–52.2 | 35.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.9%17.4–22.4 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.5%37.3–45.6 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%36.9–45.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 26.3%23.1–29.4 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.2%7–9.5 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.2%20.2–28.3 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4%13.7–19.4 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 43.3%37.6–49.4 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.4–16.8 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.3%37–49.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 34.5%28.7–41.2 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.7%68.6–76.6 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 39.6%36–43.3 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.1%79.2–84.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.8–79.1 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.8%48.4–58.9 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%62.5–78.5 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%16.9–23.2 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.9%30.7–39.1 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 39.8%36.8–42.9 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 27.8%25.2–30.5 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.2%16.3–20.3 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.7%17.1–20.4 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 34.9%32.2–37.9 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.1%37.8–48.6 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.8%19.7–26 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.9%17.2–22.8 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8–10.2 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.3%9.8–12.9 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12%10.3–13.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 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
Is Taft a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Taft is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health, #578 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 2%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Taft?
CDC estimates 44.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 52.2%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Taft?
Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, 14.7 miles in a straight line from Taft’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Taft have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 34.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 28.7–41.2%), 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 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.
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.