McAllen, TX health
McAllen differs from Texas on 11 of 33 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (4.9% vs 6.1%) and fewer adults with asthma (8.4% vs 9.5%). Where it trails the state: more uninsured adults (30.3% vs 19.1%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for McAllenMcAllen’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, McAllen is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. McAllen 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 McAllen 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. McAllen 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 McAllen 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 McAllen adults…
Bars show McAllen; 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 McAllen adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How McAllen adults are doing
Living with a disability
of McAllen 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.
McAllen and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near McAllen.
Obesity
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
Care in and near McAllen
1 hospital in McAllen, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 McAllen. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for McAllen
| Measure | McAllen | Margin | Texas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 32.9% | 30.3–35.7% | 33.1% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.8% | 32.9–38.8% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 41.8% | 37.5–46.3% | 35.6% | worse |
| Arthritis | 20.5% | 18.6–22.6% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Depression | 19.3% | 17–21.8% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 15.4% | 13.1–17.9% | 12.5% | worse |
| Asthma | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4% | 9.5% | better |
| Cancer (not skin) | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4% | 6.1% | better |
| Diabetes | 16.5% | 15–18.1% | 12.7% | worse |
| COPD | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8% | 5.7% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.2% | 5.7–6.8% | 5.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 3.4% | 3.2–3.7% | 3.2% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2% | 10–12.6% | 12.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 16.9% | 14.5–19.4% | 17% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 32.8% | 29.7–35.9% | 27.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2% | 34.1–42.3% | 38.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 73.5% | 70.5–76.4% | 73.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 49.6% | 46.5–52.6% | 54.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83.7% | 82–85.3% | 84.6% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 55.7% | 51.5–59.8% | 57.9% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 71.6% | 65.1–77.4% | 74.1% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 75.5% | 73–77.9% | 74.1% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 30.3% | 28–32.8% | 19.1% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 16.3% | 14.8–17.9% | 16.9% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 28.8% | 26.6–31.2% | 21.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 15% | 13.6–16.4% | 13.2% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35% | 32.1–38% | 30.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 17.5% | 15.9–19.1% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.6% | 15.2–18.1% | 15.1% | |
| Hearing | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2% | 6.3% | |
| Vision | 9.6% | 9–10.2% | 6.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.7% | 5.3–6.1% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 9.7% | 8.9–10.6% | 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.