Varner-Hogg Plantation · Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, West Columbia is healthier than 82%
West Columbia differs from Texas on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Columbia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Columbia
COPD, cancer and arthritis run high in West Columbia
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.2%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 13 adults have had cancer (7.6%), vs 6.1% across Texas. Arthritis is also above the state: 26.1%, vs 21.6% across Texas. In all, West Columbia runs above Texas on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in West Columbia, and more people treating it
38.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 77.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
West Columbia sleeps less
43.1% of adults sleep under 7 hours a night, vs 38.2% across Texas. Habits ↓
West Columbia is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, West Columbia is healthier than 34%. Against the 3,490 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 82%. 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 West Columbia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind West Columbia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Columbia is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, #324 of 641 in Texas. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 57% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 25%).
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). West Columbia’s median household income is $43,490; among the 3,490 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 82%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Texas towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state West Columbia is healthier than 50% of graded towns, against 34% nationally.
Out of every 100 West Columbia adults…
West Columbia runs above TX on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Columbia 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 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near West Columbia
No hospital or community health center in West Columbia 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 West Columbia; ≈ 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 West Columbia adults are doing
About the same as Texas on each measure.
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.
13.2% of West Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
West Columbia and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Columbia | C | 38.6% | 13.6% | 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 West Columbia adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Columbia
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Columbia is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside West Columbia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Columbia | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23%20.2–25.7 | 21.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.5–15.9 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%16–19.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.6%34–43.6 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.6%12–15.4 | 12.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.6%35.4–41.9 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.4%33.2–39.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.1%23.5–28.7 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.2–11.6 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.1 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.5%11.2–16 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%12–16.2 | 12.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%24.8–32.2 | 27.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.9–18.9 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.1%38.8–47.2 | 38.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.6%14.5–19.1 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.7%73.7–79.5 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.4%51.1–57.4 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.8–87.3 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%75.1–79.9 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.7%57.4–65.7 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.6%64.8–77.3 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.4%19.6–25.4 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.1%24.2–30.3 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.4%15.7–19.1 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%13.4–16.6 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.1%9–11.3 | 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) | 13.2%11.9–14.7 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.5%28.9–36.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.6–17.7 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.8–17.4 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.3–7.9 | 6.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 6.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 West Columbia
Is West Columbia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Columbia is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #324 of 641 in Texas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Columbia?
CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 34% and 43.6%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Columbia?
Sweeny Community Hospital in Sweeny, 6.9 miles in a straight line from West Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in West Columbia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.5–19.1%), 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 West Columbia 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 West Columbia.
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.