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Texarkana April 2016 002 (Texarkana Texas City Hall)Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
DHealth Grade
Health in Texarkana · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Texarkana is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns

Texarkana differs from Texas on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Texarkana. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Texarkana

COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Texarkana

1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.3%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.2% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.7%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, Texarkana runs above Texas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Making ends meet is harder in Texarkana

1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.8%), vs 19.3% across Texas. Utility shut-off threats (15.6% vs 10.7%) and no reliable transportation (13.8% vs 10.5%) are higher too. 25.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓

Smoking is more common in Texarkana

1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (18%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓

Texarkana is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Texarkana is healthier than 11%. Against the 5,994 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 27%. Health Grade ↓

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 Texarkana’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Texarkana’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Texarkana is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #535 of 641 in Texas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 28% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).

DSelf-rated health27.3% · TX 21.8% · U.S. 19.4%
C−Physical distress16% · TX 13.2% · U.S. 13%
DMental distress19.7% · TX 16.9% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity39.1% · TX 35.6% · U.S. 32.9%
DDiabetes16.1% · TX 12.7% · U.S. 12%
C−Smoking18% smoke · TX 12.5% · U.S. 11.8%
DExercise32.8% · TX 27.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 11%
Less healthyHealthier
Texas towns we grade (641)Healthier than 16%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $38K–$63K (5,994)Healthier than 27%

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). Texarkana’s median household income is $50,573; among the 5,994 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Texarkana could be anywhere from D− to C+.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Texarkana adults…

Texarkana runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Texarkana adults have COPD
Texas: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 8.4–10.3%
Better than TXWorseAbout the sameTexas
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 4
Texarkana adults worry about having enough food
25.8% · TX 19.3%
Worse than TX
1 in 5
Texarkana adults worry about keeping their housing
20.8% · TX 16.4%
Worse than TX
1 in 6
Texarkana adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
15.6% · TX 10.7%
Worse than TX
1 in 7
Texarkana adults lack reliable transportation
13.8% · TX 10.5%
Worse than TX

25.5% of Texarkana adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Texas

Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.

Get no exercise 32.8%TX 27.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 43.7%TX 38.2%
Binge drink 14.6%TX 17%
Smoke cigarettes 18%TX 12.5%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Texarkana, betterTexarkana, worseAbout the sameTexas
Where Texarkana gets moving

3.6 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near Texarkana

2 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Texarkana, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERChristus St. Michael Health SystemTexarkana · 1 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyChristus St. Michael Health System★★★★★ · 1.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCore Health Systems - Texarkana CollegeTexarkana · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.7 mi
Core Health Systems - Texarkana College
Texarkana · community health center
Sliding-scale feesIn Texarkana
1 mi
Christus St. Michael Health System
Texarkana · ★★★★★
ERIn Texarkana
1.3 mi
East Texas Border Health Clinic
4 sites · nearest in Texarkana
Sliding-scale feesIn Texarkana
Directions to nearest
2.5 mi
Special Health Resources for Texas
2 sites · nearest in Texarkana
Sliding-scale feesIn Texarkana
Directions to nearest
2.6 mi
Wadley Regional Medical Center
Texarkana · not rated
ERIn Texarkana
15.5 mi
Little River Memorial Hospital
Ashdown · not rated
ERRural critical access
31.8 mi
Southwest Regional Medical Center
Hope · not rated
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Texarkana itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Texarkana itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Texarkana itself

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 Texarkana; ≈ 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).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Texarkana adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.

76%Yearly checkupTX 74%
50%Dentist visitTX 55%
84%Cholesterol checkTX 85%
60%Colon screeningTX 58%
72%MammogramTX 74%
78%Taking BP medsTX 74%
1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Texarkana 16% · Texas 1 in 5 (19.1%)
Mind & connection

How Texarkana adults are doing

On 1 of 3 measures, Texarkana runs above Texas.

3 in 10Texarkana adults lack social or emotional support
30.4% · TX 28.4% · About the same as TX
1 in 4Texarkana adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.5% · TX 21.2% · About the same as TX
1 in 5Texarkana adults are in frequent mental distress
19.7% · TX 16.9% · Worse than TX
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Texarkana and the towns around it

Texarkana’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.

Nash: 38.9%Wake Village: 37.5%Red Lick: 30.9%Texarkana: 39.5%Texarkana: 39.1%TexarkanaNashWake VillageRed LickTexarkanaChristus St. Michael Health System · Texarkana · 1 mi · 3★ MedicareHWadley Regional Medical Center · Texarkana · 2.6 miHCore Health Systems - Texarkana College · Texarkana · 0.7 mi+Genesis Primecare Texarkana-Pediatrics · Texarkana · 1.3 mi+Texarkana Care Clinic - Texas Blvd · Texarkana · 2.5 mi+
Healthier than TXNear TXLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#4 of 5 towns on this map, healthiest first
Red Lick30.9%
Wake Village37.5%
Nash38.9%
Texarkana39.1%
Texarkana39.5%
TX35.6%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
TexarkanaD39.1%16.1%18%CDC place
NashC−38.9%13.8%17%CDC place
Wake VillageC37.5%13.8%16.2%CDC place
Red Lick————

Red Lick: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

37.5%

of Texarkana adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs19.7%
Thinking or memory18.1%
Hearing7.6%
Errands alone12.2%
Vision8.5%
Dressing or bathing6.5%
Texas

Every CDC estimate for Texarkana

Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Texarkana is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Texarkana’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…TexarkanaTXU.S.vs TX
Overall health
Fair or poor health27.3%24.5–30.221.8%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)16%14.2–17.913.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)19.7%17.5–21.916.9%15.9%Worse
Conditions
Obesity39.1%31–47.835.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes16.1%14.1–18.212.7%12%Worse
High blood pressure41.5%37.2–45.933.1%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.3%32–40.835.1%37.1%About the same
Arthritis28.2%24.9–31.621.6%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.6%10.2–13.19.5%9.9%Worse
Cancer, other than skin cancer7.4%6.7–8.16.1%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.7%6.9–8.55.6%6.4%Worse
COPD9.3%8.4–10.35.7%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.9%4.6–5.33.2%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)19.3%16.2–22.712.5%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes18%15.8–20.412.5%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work32.8%28.2–37.627.8%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking14.6%12–17.717%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours43.7%36.6–5138.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)16%14.1–1819.1%11%Better
Checkup in the past year76.3%72.4–8073.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year49.7%46.2–53.454.6%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years84.3%82.5–8684.6%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.2%75.5–80.874.1%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)59.5%54.1–64.757.9%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)72%63.5–79.374.1%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression23.5%20–27.421.2%20.6%About the same
Lack social and emotional support30.4%26.5–34.228.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food25.8%23.6–2819.3%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing20.8%18.7–22.916.4%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off15.6%13.9–17.310.7%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation13.8%12.5–1510.5%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)25.5%23.4–27.514.6%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability37.5%33.2–42.130.9%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs19.7%17.6–2214%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering18.1%16.2–2015.1%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty7.6%6.8–8.56.3%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty8.5%7.8–9.26.1%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone12.2%11.1–13.48.2%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing6.5%6–74%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 Texarkana

Is Texarkana a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Texarkana is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #535 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Texarkana?

CDC estimates 39.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31% and 47.8%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Texarkana?

Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Texarkana’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Texarkana have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 16% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–18%), 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 Texarkana 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 Texarkana.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.