On CDC estimates, Wheeler is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns
Wheeler differs from Texas on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wheeler. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wheeler
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Wheeler
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.5%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.9%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Cancer is also above the state: 8.3%, vs 6.1% across Texas. In all, Wheeler runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Wheeler, and more people treating it
38.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 77.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
More Wheeler adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32.6%), vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
Wheeler is short on dental care and mental health care
Wheeler’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Wheeler is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Wheeler is healthier than 21%. Against the 7,831 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 38%. 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 Wheeler’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Wheeler’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wheeler is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 44% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Wheeler’s median household income is $56,346; among the 7,831 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 38%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Wheeler adults…
Wheeler runs above TX on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wheeler 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 Wheeler
1 hospital in Wheeler, 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 Wheeler; ≈ 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 Wheeler 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.
14.3% of Wheeler adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Wheeler and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler | C− | 38.1% | 15% | 15.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wheeler adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wheeler
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wheeler is better than Texas on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Wheeler’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wheeler | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.1%23.1–29.1 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.5–17.7 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%16.2–19.1 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%34.5–42 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15%13.6–16.2 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.6%36.4–40.7 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%36.8–40.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 27.9%26.1–29.6 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10%9.2–10.7 | 9.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.8–8.9 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.5%7.2–9.8 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.4%15.9–23.5 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.4%13.3–17.6 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.6%29–36.1 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%14.5–17.3 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2%31.1–47 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 21.7%18.1–25.4 | 19.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.9%73.1–76.9 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.3%48.4–56.5 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83.7–86.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%76.4–79.4 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60%54.7–65.9 | 57.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69%64.7–73.3 | 74.1% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%21.2–24.7 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%22.6–30 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18%16.1–19.8 | 19.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.7%13–16.4 | 16.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.7%8.6–11 | 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) | 14.3%12.8–15.9 | 14.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.9%33.6–40.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.6%16.4–20.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.8–18.5 | 15.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%8–9.7 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.7–11.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 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 Wheeler
Is Wheeler a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wheeler is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 38%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wheeler?
CDC estimates 38.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.5% and 42%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wheeler?
Parkview Hospital in Wheeler, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Wheeler’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Wheeler have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 21.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 18.1–25.4%), 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 Wheeler 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 Wheeler.
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.