Ames, TX health
Ames differs from Texas on 19 of 33 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (11.6% vs 17%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (81.7% vs 74.1%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (29.2% vs 12.5%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for AmesAmes’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Ames is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Ames does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 Texas 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 Ames 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. Ames 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.
How Ames compares with Texas
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.
Out of every 100 Ames adults…
Bars show Ames; the black tick is Texas. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
TX 27.8%
TX 38.2%
TX 17%
TX 12.5%
Keeping up with care
Share of Ames adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Ames adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Ames adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: Texas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Ames
No hospital or community health center in Ames 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 Ames. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Ames
| Measure | Ames | Margin | Texas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 52.3% | 48–56.9% | 33.1% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 39.3% | 34.7–44.1% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 47.9% | 39.2–57.2% | 35.6% | worse |
| Arthritis | 31.2% | 27.6–35% | 21.6% | worse |
| Depression | 19.1% | 16.1–22.6% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 29.2% | 24.6–34% | 12.5% | worse |
| Asthma | 12.7% | 11.2–14.4% | 9.5% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 5.5% | 4.9–6.2% | 6.1% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 23.6% | 20.9–26.4% | 12.7% | worse |
| COPD | 10.7% | 9.1–12.4% | 5.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.1% | 8–10.3% | 5.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7% | 3.2% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.4% | 18–25% | 12.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 11.6% | 9.4–14.2% | 17% | better |
| Get no exercise | 42% | 36.1–48.3% | 27.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.9% | 39.7–54.4% | 38.2% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.3% | 75.9–82.7% | 73.8% | better |
| Dentist visit | 41.6% | 38.1–45.5% | 54.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 85.4% | 83.3–87.4% | 84.6% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 58.9% | 53.6–64.3% | 57.9% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.8% | 69.1–83.5% | 74.1% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 81.7% | 79.3–84.1% | 74.1% | better |
| No health insurance | 20% | 16.5–23.7% | 19.1% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 19.9% | 17.7–22.4% | 16.9% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 35.9% | 31.4–40.7% | 21.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.6% | 16.3–21.2% | 13.2% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.8% | 38.5–49.4% | 30.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 26.6% | 23.1–30.3% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 19.8% | 17.2–22.5% | 15.1% | |
| Hearing | 7.1% | 6.3–8.1% | 6.3% | |
| Vision | 11.1% | 9.7–12.7% | 6.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 8.9% | 7.6–10.3% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 14.2% | 12.3–16.3% | 8.2% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Texas 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.