Forsgard Homestead · Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Waco as a whole is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns
Waco trails Texas on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waco. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waco
Making ends meet is harder in Waco
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.6%), vs 19.3% across Texas. No reliable transportation (14.8% vs 10.5%) and utility shut-off threats (14.8% vs 10.7%) are higher too. 24.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Waco
46.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Waco
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.1%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Waco
Grades next door run from Woodway (A) to Bellmead (D). Waco is a C−. Around town ↓
Waco is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Waco is healthier than 25%. Against the 7,228 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 48%. 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 Waco’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Waco’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waco is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #403 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 47% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Waco’s median household income is $54,365; among the 7,228 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 48%, about where its income would put it.
At 147,788 residents, Waco is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.3% of Waco adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Waco 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.
57 miles of trails across 49 parks and preserves
Waco and the towns around it
Waco’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 8 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | C− | 36.8% | 13% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Woodway | A | 28.8% | 10.9% | 8.4% | CDC place |
| Bellmead | D | 40.1% | 16.3% | 18.3% | CDC place |
| Robinson | B | 32.7% | 11.1% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Hewitt | A− | 31.4% | 12% | 10.3% | CDC place |
| McGregor | B+ | 33.4% | 11.8% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Lacy-Lakeview | C− | 38.5% | 14.2% | 16.6% | CDC place |
| China Spring | A− | 30.9% | 9.6% | 10.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Waco adults…
Waco runs above TX on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Waco
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Waco, 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 Waco; ≈ 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 Waco adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Waco 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waco adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waco
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waco is better than Texas on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Waco’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waco | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26%23.2–28.8 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.1–16.6 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.4%18.2–22.6 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.8%29.2–44.6 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.4–14.7 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.9%30.1–37.8 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.2%28.3–36.2 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.2%19.5–24.8 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7%6.3–7.8 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%15–21 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%13.1–17.1 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.4%26.9–35.9 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.2–19.4 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.2%34.8–48.3 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.4%18.2–22.5 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.2%68.9–76.9 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.7%43.3–50.4 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.9%77.7–81.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.7%69.9–75.1 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.9%53.7–64 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.4%63.4–78.9 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.3%20.7–27.9 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.4%26.7–34.3 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.6%24.3–28.9 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.8%18.7–22.9 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.8%13.2–16.4 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.8%13.5–16.1 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.3%22.2–26.4 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36%31.7–40.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.9%14–17.7 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%17.3–21.2 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.3 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%7.3–8.5 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%10.3–12.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.8–5.6 | 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 Waco
Is Waco a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waco is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #403 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 48%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waco?
CDC estimates 36.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 44.6%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waco?
Ascension Providence in Waco, 3.0 miles in a straight line from Waco’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waco have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 18.2–22.5%), 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 Waco more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Waco.
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.