Health · Houston
Houston, MO health
Houston differs from Missouri on 19 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (12.7% vs 8%) and more older adults who have lost all their teeth (24.8% vs 15.8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for HoustonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Houston’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Houston is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, and than 30% of towns with similar incomes.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressC-ObesityDDiabetesDSmokingD-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 6%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 15%
Towns with similar incomes, $30K–$50K (2,257)Healthier than 30%
Better than its income would suggest. Houston is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Houston could be anywhere from D− to C.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Missouri ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Houston with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Houston uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Houston compares with Missouri
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
40.6% have obesity
0 better4 close8 worse
Habits
38.1% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
78.9% had a checkup
0 better4 close3 worse
Mind & connection
31.7% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
19.1% face food insecurity
0 better2 close3 worse
Disability
47.1% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Houston adults…
43 of every 100 Houston adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · worse · margin 38.7–47.2%
Bars show Houston; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Houston, betterHouston, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
38.1% Houston
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
39.2% Houston
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14% Houston
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
21.3% Houston
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Houston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Yearly checkup
MO 78%Dentist visit
MO 60%Cholesterol check
MO 85%Colon screening
MO 64%Mammogram
MO 75%Taking BP meds
MO 77%1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Houston 11.9% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Houston adults are doing
1 in 3Houston adults feel lonely
31.7% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Houston adults have been diagnosed with depression
26.7% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Houston adults lack social or emotional support
20.1% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Houston adults are in frequent mental distress
20% · Missouri 17.5% · worse
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 5
Houston adults worry about having enough food
19.1% · MO 13.7% · worse
1 in 7
Houston adults worry about keeping their housing
14.2% · MO 12.1% · about the same
1 in 9
Houston adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
11.1% · MO 9% · worse
1 in 9
Houston adults lack reliable transportation
11.1% · MO 8.4% · worse
17.6% of Houston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
47.1%
of Houston adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs23.3%
Thinking or memory22.2%
Hearing12.1%
Errands alone13.6%
Vision7.8%
Dressing or bathing5.9%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Houston
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Houston, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERTexas County Memorial HospitalHouston · 0.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careDouglas County Public Health Services GroupHouston · 0.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Douglas County Public Health Services Group
4 sites · nearest in Houston
Missouri Ozarks Community Health-HoustonHouston · 0.4 mi
Missouri Ozarks Community HealthCabool · 15.9 mi
Missouri Ozarks Community HealthMountain Grove · 20.6 mi
Missouri Ozarks Community HealthMansfield · 36.2 mi
28.7 mi
General Leonard Wood Ach (Ft Leonard Wood)
Fort Leonard Wood · not rated
31.7 mi
South Central Missouri Community Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Salem
Four Rivers Community Health Center - SalemSalem · 31.7 mi
Four Rivers Community Health Center SalemSalem · 31.9 mi
Four Rivers Community Health Center St. RobertSaint Robert · 35.9 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careHouston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Texas County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careHouston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Texas County · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthHouston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Region 18 MHCA · need score 18 of 25
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 Houston. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Houston
| Measure | Houston | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 42.9% | 38.7–47.2% | 36.5% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 40.4% | 36–44.9% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 40.6% | 33.1–48.6% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 35% | 31.5–38.5% | 28.8% | worse |
| Depression | 26.7% | 23–30.8% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 24.8% | 20.7–29.1% | 15.8% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.3% | 10–12.8% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.2% | 9.2–11.3% | 8.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 15.3% | 13.4–17.4% | 12.1% | worse |
| COPD | 12.7% | 10.9–14.5% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.6% | 8.6–10.8% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.3% | 18.4–24.5% | 16% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14% | 11.5–17% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 38.1% | 32.9–43.6% | 28.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.2% | 32.3–46.2% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.9% | 75.4–82.3% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 52.8% | 48.9–56.6% | 60.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 81.5% | 79.2–83.8% | 84.5% | worse |
| Colon screening | 61.6% | 56.1–66.6% | 64% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 69.8% | 60.9–77.5% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.4% | 76.9–81.8% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 11.9% | 9.6–14.4% | 8.7% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.7% | 26.8–36.7% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.1% | 16.9–23.5% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 20% | 17.8–22.4% | 17.5% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 28.7% | 25–32.4% | 20.5% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.7% | 16.5–21.1% | 14.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 19.1% | 16.1–22.6% | 13.7% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 14.2% | 12–16.5% | 12.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 11.1% | 9.6–12.7% | 9% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 11.1% | 9.6–12.8% | 8.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 17.6% | 14.9–20.8% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.1% | 42.2–52.1% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 23.3% | 20.3–26.2% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 22.2% | 19.6–25% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 12.1% | 10.8–13.5% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 7.8% | 6.8–8.8% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.9% | 5.1–6.7% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 13.6% | 11.8–15.5% | 9.2% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Houston door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call Houston better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Houston directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.