Health in Dawson
Dawson differs from Texas on 16 of 33 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (78% vs 74.1%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (21.9% vs 12.5%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dawson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dawson
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Dawson
No hospital or community health center in Dawson 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 Dawson; ≈ 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 Dawson adults are doing
On 2 of 2 measures, Dawson runs above Texas.
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.
Dawson’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Dawson is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns, and than 31% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Dawson is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.
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 the 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): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Dawson 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. 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.
Out of every 100 Dawson adults…
Dawson runs above TX on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dawson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dawson adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
All 33 CDC measures for Dawson
| Measure | Dawson | Likely range | Texas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40% | 35.8–44.5% | 33.1% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 38.5% | 34–42.9% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37.6% | 29.3–46.2% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2% | 25.9–32.7% | 21.6% | worse |
| Depression | 25.1% | 21.4–29% | 21.2% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 21.9% | 18.1–26.1% | 12.5% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.5% | 10.2–13% | 9.5% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.1% | 7.2–9% | 6.1% | worse |
| Diabetes | 15.2% | 13.2–17.6% | 12.7% | worse |
| COPD | 9.8% | 8.2–11.5% | 5.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2% | 5.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.6% | 4.1–5.3% | 3.2% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18% | 15–21.5% | 12.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 15.6% | 12.8–18.8% | 17% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 32.4% | 27.3–38.4% | 27.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7% | 32.3–47.1% | 38.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.7% | 71.7–79.3% | 73.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 48.6% | 44.7–52.4% | 54.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 84% | 81.5–86.1% | 84.6% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 59% | 53.3–64.4% | 57.9% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 70.1% | 61–78.2% | 74.1% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78% | 75.1–80.5% | 74.1% | better |
| No health insurance | 16.3% | 13.3–19.6% | 19.1% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 19.9% | 17.7–22.4% | 16.9% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 26.6% | 22.9–30.9% | 21.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 16.6% | 14.5–19% | 13.2% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.6% | 33.7–44% | 30.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 19.6% | 16.7–22.7% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.6% | 16.2–21.3% | 15.1% | |
| Hearing | 8.6% | 7.6–9.8% | 6.3% | |
| Vision | 7.3% | 6.4–8.4% | 6.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.6% | 4.8–6.5% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 11.6% | 10–13.4% | 8.2% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Dawson door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the Texas figure falls inside it, we don’t call Dawson better or worse.
CDC publishes Dawson directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dawson.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
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.