Photo: Smarty9108 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Watauga is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Watauga differs from Texas on 5 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Watauga. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watauga
What’s behind Watauga’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watauga is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, #204 of 641 in Texas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 76% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 35%).
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). Watauga’s median household income is $91,171; among the 9,830 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($68K–$114K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Watauga and the towns around it
Watauga’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga | B | 31.9% | 11% | 13.2% | CDC place |
| Keller | A | 27.6% | 9.4% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| North Richland Hills | B+ | 30.6% | 10.6% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Fort Worth | C+ | 34.6% | 12.2% | 13.8% | CDC place |
| Haltom City | C− | 35.4% | 13.7% | 16.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Watauga adults…
Watauga runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Watauga
No hospital or community health center in Watauga 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 Watauga; ≈ 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.
2.7 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Watauga adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Watauga adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Watauga 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.
12.8% of Watauga adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watauga adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Watauga
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Watauga is better than Texas on 4 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Watauga’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Watauga | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.6%17.3–21.9 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.5–14.6 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%16–20 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.9%27.6–36.4 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.6–12.4 | 12.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.4%27.4–33.4 | 33.1% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.5%30.5–36.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.3%20–24.7 | 21.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.3 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%6–7.3 | 6.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 5.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.7%9.8–14.1 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.2%11.4–15.1 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.5%23.2–30 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%15.1–20.2 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.3%35.7–43.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.1%13.3–17.1 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.9%68.7–74.9 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.8%54.8–60.8 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.4–86.6 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.6%69.6–75.5 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.7%55.7–63.7 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.3%69.4–80.9 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.3%21.5–27.3 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.9%26–32 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17%15.4–18.7 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.8%13.3–16.4 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.5%8.5–10.7 | 10.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.7–10.5 | 10.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.8%11.5–14.3 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26.3–32.9 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.2%11.6–14.8 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%13.1–16.5 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Watauga
Is Watauga a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watauga is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #204 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Watauga?
CDC estimates 31.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 36.4%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Watauga?
Medical City North Hills in North Richland Hills, 3.7 miles in a straight line from Watauga’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Watauga have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.3–17.1%), 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 Watauga more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Watauga.
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.