Health · Merkel
Merkel, TX health
Merkel differs from Texas on 11 of 33 measures. It has fewer uninsured adults (16.2% vs 19.1%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (8.6% vs 5.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for MerkelTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C−
Merkel’s Health Grade: C−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Merkel is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns.
C-Self-rated healthCPhysical distressC-Mental distressC+ObesityCDiabetesCSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 21%
Less healthyHealthier
Texas towns we grade (1,011)Healthier than 33%
Towns with similar incomes, $55K–$92K (9,838)Healthier than 16%
About what its income would suggest. Merkel does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Merkel could be anywhere from D− to B.
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 Merkel 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. Merkel 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 Merkel 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
37.4% have obesity
0 better5 close7 worse
Habits
30.6% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
74.1% had a checkup
1 better5 close1 worse
Mind & connection
0 better2 close1 worse
Disability
35.3% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Merkel adults…
38 of every 100 Merkel adults have high blood pressure
Texas: 33 in 100 · worse · margin 33.9–42.6%
Bars show Merkel; the black tick is Texas. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Merkel, betterMerkel, worseToo close to callTexas
Get no exerciseshare of adults
30.6% Merkel
TX 27.8%
TX 27.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
38.2% Merkel
TX 38.2%
TX 38.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults
16.9% Merkel
TX 17%
TX 17%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
16.9% Merkel
TX 12.5%
TX 12.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Merkel adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Yearly checkup
TX 74%Dentist visit
TX 55%Cholesterol check
TX 85%Colon screening
TX 58%Mammogram
TX 74%Taking BP meds
TX 74%1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Merkel 16.2% · Texas 1 in 5 (19.1%)
Mind & connection
How Merkel adults are doing
1 in 4Merkel adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.6% · Texas 21.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Merkel adults are in frequent mental distress
19.2% · Texas 16.9% · too close to call
Disability
Living with a disability
35.3%
of Merkel adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs17.3%
Thinking or memory17.1%
Hearing8.2%
Errands alone10%
Vision6.3%
Dressing or bathing4.7%
Black tick: Texas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Merkel
1 community health center in Merkel, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERHendrick Medical CenterAbilene · 16.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careShackelford County Community Resource CenterMerkel · 0.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.2 mi
Shackelford County Community Resource Center
7 sites · nearest in Merkel
Resourcecare MerkelMerkel · 0.2 mi
Resourcecare ClydeClyde · 30.7 mi
Baird on Peyton - Admin SiteBaird · 35.8 mi
Resourcecare - Baird on PeytonBaird · 35.8 mi
Shackelford County Community Resource CenterAlbany · 45.8 mi
Resourcecare Cross PlainsCross Plains · 54.9 mi
Resourcecare BreckenridgeBreckenridge · 65.6 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careMerkel's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Taylor County · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careMerkel's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Taylor County · need score 15 of 25
! Mental healthMerkel's county is a federal shortage area.Taylor County · need score 11 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 Merkel. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Merkel
| Measure | Merkel | Margin | Texas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.1% | 33.9–42.6% | 33.1% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 38.5% | 34.2–42.9% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37.4% | 29.6–45.8% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8% | 24.6–31.3% | 21.6% | worse |
| Depression | 24.6% | 20.9–28.5% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 16.8% | 13.5–20.3% | 12.5% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8% | 9.5% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.1% | 7.2–8.9% | 6.1% | worse |
| Diabetes | 13.8% | 12.1–15.9% | 12.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.6% | 7.3–9.9% | 5.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.3% | 6.5–8.3% | 5.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4% | 3.5–4.4% | 3.2% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9% | 14.2–20.1% | 12.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 16.9% | 14–20.2% | 17% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 30.6% | 25.7–36.1% | 27.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2% | 31.2–45.1% | 38.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 74.1% | 70.2–77.9% | 73.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 50.7% | 46.5–54.4% | 54.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 84.6% | 82.5–86.5% | 84.6% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 58.5% | 52.6–63.6% | 57.9% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 69.7% | 60.7–77.3% | 74.1% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.9% | 74.1–79.5% | 74.1% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 16.2% | 13.6–19% | 19.1% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 19.2% | 16.8–21.5% | 16.9% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 24% | 20.8–27.8% | 21.8% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.7% | 13.8–18% | 13.2% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3% | 30.6–40.3% | 30.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 17.3% | 14.9–20% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.1% | 14.9–19.5% | 15.1% | |
| Hearing | 8.2% | 7.3–9.3% | 6.3% | |
| Vision | 6.3% | 5.6–7.2% | 6.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.7% | 4.1–5.4% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 10% | 8.8–11.5% | 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 Merkel door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Texas figure falls inside it, we don't call Merkel better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Merkel 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.