Health · Houston
Houston, MS health
Houston differs from Mississippi on 13 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults facing a utility shut-off (16.4% vs 11.2%) and more adults facing food insecurity (31.7% vs 22.4%).
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 3% of U.S. towns.
D-Self-rated healthDPhysical distressC-Mental distressD-ObesityD-DiabetesDSmokingD-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 3%
Less healthyHealthier
Mississippi towns we grade (194)Healthier than 20%
Towns with similar incomes, $33K–$55K (3,463)Healthier than 12%
About what its income would suggest. Houston does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi
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
45.1% have obesity
0 better8 close4 worse
Habits
40.9% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
81.6% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
37.4% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
31.7% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
45.4% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Houston adults…
48 of every 100 Houston adults have high blood pressure
Mississippi: 45 in 100 · too close to call · margin 43.5–52.7%
Bars show Houston; the black tick is Mississippi. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Houston, betterHouston, worseToo close to callMississippi
Get no exerciseshare of adults
40.9% Houston
MS 34%
MS 34%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
39.1% Houston
MS 38.4%
MS 38.4%
Binge drinkshare of adults
11.4% Houston
MS 13.6%
MS 13.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
20.9% Houston
MS 16.9%
MS 16.9%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Houston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Yearly checkup
MS 82%Dentist visit
MS 9%Cholesterol check
MS 86%Colon screening
MS 62%Mammogram
MS 74%Taking BP meds
MS 80%1 in 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
Houston 15% · Mississippi 1 in 9 (11.5%)
Mind & connection
How Houston adults are doing
1 in 3Houston adults feel lonely
37.4% · Mississippi 36.4% · too close to call
1 in 5Houston adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.2% · Mississippi 19.5% · too close to call
1 in 3Houston adults lack social or emotional support
30.5% · Mississippi 28.9% · too close to call
1 in 5Houston adults are in frequent mental distress
19.1% · Mississippi 17.3% · too close to call
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 3
Houston adults worry about having enough food
31.7% · MS 22.4% · worse
1 in 4
Houston adults worry about keeping their housing
22.9% · MS 16.8% · worse
1 in 6
Houston adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
16.4% · MS 11.2% · worse
1 in 6
Houston adults lack reliable transportation
16.7% · MS 11.9% · worse
22.9% of Houston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Disability
Living with a disability
45.4%
of Houston adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs24.9%
Thinking or memory21%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone14%
Vision10.1%
Dressing or bathing7.6%
Black tick: Mississippi. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Houston
2 hospitals in Houston, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERProgressive Health Group of HoustonHouston · 1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careAccess Family Health ServicesHoulka · 9.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
9.8 mi
Access Family Health Services
2 sites · nearest in Houlka
Access Family Health Services - HoulkaHoulka · 9.8 mi
Access Family Health Services - NettletonNettleton · 22.8 mi
17.4 mi
Family Health Care Clinic
2 sites · nearest in Calhoun City
Family Health Care Clinic, Calhoun City--Head StartCalhoun City · 17.4 mi
Family Health Care Clinic, Inc., Calhoun CityCalhoun City · 18 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careHouston's county is a federal shortage area.Chickasaw County · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careHouston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Chickasaw County · need score 20 of 25
! Mental healthHouston's county is a federal shortage area.Mental Health Catchment Area 3 · need score 16 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 | Mississippi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 48.2% | 43.5–52.7% | 44.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 41% | 36.2–45.6% | 38.8% | about the same |
| Obesity | 45.1% | 36.5–53.5% | 40.4% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 33.2% | 29.6–36.9% | 29.9% | about the same |
| Depression | 20.2% | 16.9–23.8% | 19.5% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 20.2% | 16.7–24.1% | 18.5% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11% | 9.6–12.4% | 10% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3% | 7.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 19.1% | 16.7–21.7% | 15.5% | worse |
| COPD | 11.4% | 9.8–13.2% | 8.6% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.9% | 7.9–10.1% | 7.5% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5% | 4.5% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.9% | 17.5–24.1% | 16.9% | worse |
| Binge drink | 11.4% | 9.1–14% | 13.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 40.9% | 35–46.7% | 34% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.1% | 32.1–46.3% | 38.4% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 81.6% | 78.1–84.7% | 81.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 8% | 6.7–9.5% | 9.3% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 84.9% | 82.4–87.1% | 86.2% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 60.8% | 55.3–66.2% | 61.8% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 71.1% | 62.3–79.1% | 74% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 80.5% | 77.9–82.9% | 79.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 15% | 12.1–18.3% | 11.5% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 37.4% | 32.1–42.7% | 36.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 30.5% | 26.3–34.8% | 28.9% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.1% | 16.7–21.6% | 17.3% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 31.9% | 27.8–36.2% | 24.4% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.9% | 15.6–20.4% | 14.8% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 31.7% | 27.1–36.5% | 22.4% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 22.9% | 19.7–26.3% | 16.8% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 16.4% | 14.1–18.8% | 11.2% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 16.7% | 14.4–19.2% | 11.9% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 22.9% | 19.1–26.8% | 13.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.4% | 39.9–50.8% | 38.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 24.9% | 21.8–28.2% | 18.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 21% | 18.2–23.9% | 17.5% | |
| Hearing | 9.3% | 8.2–10.6% | 8.1% | |
| Vision | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4% | 7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 7.6% | 6.6–8.6% | 5.3% | |
| Errands alone | 14% | 12.1–15.9% | 10.4% | |
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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.