Health · Buffalo

Buffalo, TX health

Buffalo differs from Texas on 16 of 33 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (22.5% vs 12.5%) and more adults with COPD (9.3% vs 5.7%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Buffalo
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Buffalo’s Health Grade: D

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Buffalo is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, and than 27% of towns with similar incomes.

DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressC-ObesityDDiabetesC-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 8%
Less healthyHealthier
Texas towns we grade (1,011)Healthier than 11%
Towns with similar incomes, $34K–$57K (3,740)Healthier than 27%

Better than its income would suggest. Buffalo 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, Buffalo 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 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 Buffalo 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. Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Buffalo adults…

39 of every 100 Buffalo adults have high blood pressure
Texas: 33 in 100 · worse · margin 34.8–43.4%

Bars show Buffalo; the black tick is Texas. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Buffalo, betterBuffalo, worseToo close to callTexas
Get no exerciseshare of adults 35.7% Buffalo
TX 27.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 40.2% Buffalo
TX 38.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults 15.5% Buffalo
TX 17%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 18.4% Buffalo
TX 12.5%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Buffalo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.

74%
Yearly checkup
TX 74%
46%
Dentist visit
TX 55%
82%
Cholesterol check
TX 85%
59%
Colon screening
TX 58%
69%
Mammogram
TX 74%
77%
Taking BP meds
TX 74%
1 in 4
working-age adults has no health insurance
Buffalo 23.2% · Texas 1 in 5 (19.1%)
Mind & connection

How Buffalo adults are doing

1 in 4Buffalo adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.9% · Texas 21.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Buffalo adults are in frequent mental distress
19.9% · Texas 16.9% · worse
Disability

Living with a disability

39.3%

of Buffalo adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs19.8%
Thinking or memory19.4%
Hearing8.2%
Errands alone11.7%
Vision8.4%
Dressing or bathing5.9%

Black tick: Texas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Getting care

Care in and near Buffalo

No hospital or community health center in Buffalo itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERFreestone Medical CenterFairfield · 19.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyPalestine Regional Medical Center★★★★★ · 32.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careBrazos Valley Community Action AgencyCenterville · 15.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
15.5 mi
Brazos Valley Community Action Agency
4 sites · nearest in Centerville
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
19.4 mi
Freestone Medical Center
Fairfield · not rated
ER
27.8 mi
Limestone Medical Center
Groesbeck · not rated
ERRural critical access
28.5 mi
Parkview Regional Hospital
Mexia · not rated
ER
31.5 mi
Crossroads Family Care Palestine
Palestine · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
32.1 mi
Palestine Regional Medical Center
Palestine · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary careBuffalo's county is a federal shortage area.Leon County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careBuffalo's county is a federal shortage area.Leon County · need score 11 of 25
! Mental healthBuffalo's county is a federal shortage area.Leon County · need score 17 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 Buffalo. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 33 measures for Buffalo
MeasureBuffaloMarginTexas
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure39.1%34.8–43.4%33.1%worse
High cholesterol37.6%33.2–42.2%35.1%about the same
Obesity40.2%31.6–49.4%35.6%about the same
Arthritis27.2%24–30.4%21.6%worse
Depression23.9%20.4–27.7%21.2%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)22.5%18.6–26.5%12.5%worse
Asthma10.8%9.5–12.1%9.5%about the same
Cancer (not skin)6.9%6.2–7.6%6.1%worse
Diabetes16.1%14.1–18.2%12.7%worse
COPD9.3%8.3–10.5%5.7%worse
Heart disease7.8%6.9–8.6%5.6%worse
Stroke4.5%4.1–4.9%3.2%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes18.4%15.8–21.1%12.5%worse
Binge drink15.5%12.6–18.7%17%about the same
Get no exercise35.7%30.6–41.4%27.8%worse
Sleep under 7 hours40.2%32.8–47.5%38.2%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup73.9%69.7–77.8%73.8%about the same
Dentist visit46.3%42.4–50%54.6%worse
Cholesterol check82.2%79.9–84.3%84.6%worse
Colon screening59.1%53.4–64.2%57.9%about the same
Mammogram69%59.8–76.6%74.1%about the same
Taking BP meds76.8%74.1–79.3%74.1%about the same
No health insurance23.2%20.2–26.6%19.1%worse
Mind & connection
Frequent mental distress19.9%17.7–22.2%16.9%worse
Fair or poor health29.5%26.2–33.1%21.8%worse
Frequent physical distress17.2%15.2–19.3%13.2%worse
Disability
Any disability39.3%34.7–44.4%30.9%
Walking or climbing stairs19.8%17.5–22.1%14%
Thinking or memory19.4%17.2–21.7%15.1%
Hearing8.2%7.3–9.2%6.3%
Vision8.4%7.7–9.3%6.1%
Dressing or bathing5.9%5.4–6.6%4%
Errands alone11.7%10.5–13.1%8.2%
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 Buffalo door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Texas figure falls inside it, we don't call Buffalo better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Buffalo directly, so these are its own figures.

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.

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