Health · Early

Early, TX health

Early differs from Texas on 7 of 33 measures. It has fewer uninsured adults (13.5% vs 19.1%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (77.5% vs 74.1%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (8.7% vs 6.1%).

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

Early’s Health Grade: C+

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Early is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns and 59% of Texas towns.

CSelf-rated healthC+Physical distressCMental distressB+ObesityC+DiabetesB-SmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 41%
Less healthyHealthier
Texas towns we grade (1,011)Healthier than 59%
Towns with similar incomes, $51K–$84K (9,329)Healthier than 54%

About what its income would suggest. Early does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Early could be anywhere from D to A−.
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 Early 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. Early 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 Early 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 Early adults…

37 of every 100 Early adults have high blood pressure
Texas: 33 in 100 · too close to call · margin 32.4–40.8%

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

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Early, betterEarly, worseToo close to callTexas
Get no exerciseshare of adults 27.6% Early
TX 27.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 37.2% Early
TX 38.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults 16.9% Early
TX 17%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 14.7% Early
TX 12.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

75%
Yearly checkup
TX 74%
58%
Dentist visit
TX 55%
86%
Cholesterol check
TX 85%
61%
Colon screening
TX 58%
74%
Mammogram
TX 74%
78%
Taking BP meds
TX 74%
1 in 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
Early 13.5% · Texas 1 in 5 (19.1%)
Mind & connection

How Early adults are doing

1 in 4Early adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.5% · Texas 21.2% · too close to call
1 in 6Early adults are in frequent mental distress
18% · Texas 16.9% · too close to call
Disability

Living with a disability

34.1%

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

Walking or climbing stairs15.9%
Thinking or memory15.7%
Hearing8.2%
Errands alone9.2%
Vision5.6%
Dressing or bathing4.2%

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

Getting care

Care in and near Early

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

HNearest ERHendrick Medical Center BrownwoodBrownwood · 5.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyComanche County Medical Center★★★★★ · 27.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCross Timbers Health ClinicsBrownwood · 5.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
5.2 mi
Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood
Brownwood · ★★★★★
ER
5.3 mi
Cross Timbers Health Clinics
3 sites · nearest in Brownwood
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
27.8 mi
Comanche County Medical Center
Comanche · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
29.3 mi
Coleman County Medical Center Company
Coleman · not rated
ERRural critical access
29.5 mi
Shackelford County Community Resource Center
4 sites · nearest in Cross Plains
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
46 mi
Eastland Memorial Hospital
Eastland · not rated
ERRural critical access
! Primary careEarly's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Brown County · need score 12 of 25
! Dental careEarly's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Brown County · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthEarly's county is a federal shortage area.Brown 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 Early. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 33 measures for Early
MeasureEarlyMarginTexas
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure36.6%32.4–40.8%33.1%about the same
High cholesterol38.1%33.6–42.5%35.1%about the same
Obesity33.9%26.3–42%35.6%about the same
Arthritis27.4%24.2–30.7%21.6%worse
Depression24.5%20.9–28.4%21.2%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)14.1%11.6–17%12.5%about the same
Asthma10.4%9.2–11.7%9.5%about the same
Cancer (not skin)8.7%7.8–9.7%6.1%worse
Diabetes13%11.2–14.9%12.7%about the same
COPD8%6.7–9.5%5.7%worse
Heart disease7.3%6.4–8.3%5.6%worse
Stroke3.8%3.3–4.3%3.2%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes14.7%12–17.6%12.5%about the same
Binge drink16.9%13.7–20.2%17%about the same
Get no exercise27.6%22.6–32.4%27.8%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours37.2%30.6–44.2%38.2%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup75.1%70.8–78.8%73.8%about the same
Dentist visit57.9%54.1–61.4%54.6%about the same
Cholesterol check85.5%83.2–87.6%84.6%about the same
Colon screening60.5%55.3–65.7%57.9%about the same
Mammogram73.7%65.9–80.5%74.1%about the same
Taking BP meds77.5%74.5–80.2%74.1%better
No health insurance13.5%10.7–16.4%19.1%better
Mind & connection
Frequent mental distress18%15.7–20.2%16.9%about the same
Fair or poor health21.9%18.5–25.4%21.8%about the same
Frequent physical distress14.8%12.8–16.8%13.2%about the same
Disability
Any disability34.1%29.1–38.8%30.9%
Walking or climbing stairs15.9%13.5–18.6%14%
Thinking or memory15.7%13.4–18%15.1%
Hearing8.2%7.2–9.2%6.3%
Vision5.6%4.9–6.4%6.1%
Dressing or bathing4.2%3.6–4.9%4%
Errands alone9.2%7.8–10.6%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 Early door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Texas figure falls inside it, we don't call Early better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Early 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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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01