Health · Vernon
Vernon, TX health
Vernon differs from Texas on 15 of 33 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (77.7% vs 74.1%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (10% vs 5.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for VernonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Vernon’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Vernon is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressCObesityDDiabetesC-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 8%
Less healthyHealthier
Texas towns we grade (1,011)Healthier than 12%
Towns with similar incomes, $38K–$64K (5,763)Healthier than 18%
About what its income would suggest. Vernon does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Vernon 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 Vernon 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. Vernon 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 Vernon 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
39.5% have obesity
0 better4 close8 worse
Habits
36.6% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
75.1% had a checkup
1 better5 close1 worse
Mind & connection
0 better0 close3 worse
Disability
40.4% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Vernon adults…
40 of every 100 Vernon adults have high blood pressure
Texas: 33 in 100 · worse · margin 36.2–44.3%
Bars show Vernon; the black tick is Texas. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Vernon, betterVernon, worseToo close to callTexas
Get no exerciseshare of adults
36.6% Vernon
TX 27.8%
TX 27.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
40% Vernon
TX 38.2%
TX 38.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.8% Vernon
TX 17%
TX 17%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18.1% Vernon
TX 12.5%
TX 12.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Vernon 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 5
working-age adults has no health insurance
Vernon 21.5% · Texas 1 in 5 (19.1%)
Mind & connection
How Vernon adults are doing
1 in 4Vernon adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.7% · Texas 21.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Vernon adults are in frequent mental distress
19.5% · Texas 16.9% · worse
Disability
Living with a disability
40.4%
of Vernon adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs21%
Thinking or memory19%
Hearing9.2%
Errands alone12.2%
Vision8.9%
Dressing or bathing6.3%
Black tick: Texas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Around Vernon
Vernon and the towns around it
Care nearby
Wilbarger General HospitalVernon · 1.1 mi · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Electra Memorial HospitalElectra · 23.3 mi · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Hardeman County Memorial HospitalQuanah · 27.2 mi · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
Jackson County Memorial Hospital AuthorityAltus · 34.1 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Club Health Center of VernonVernon · 0.8 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
Chc at Wilbarger GeneralVernon · 1.1 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
! Primary careVernon's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wilbarger County · need score 17 of 25
! Dental careVernon's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wilbarger County · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthVernon's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wilbarger County · need score 14 of 25
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Vernon. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 33 measures for Vernon
| Measure | Vernon | Margin | Texas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.3% | 36.2–44.3% | 33.1% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 38.6% | 34.5–42.7% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 39.5% | 31.5–47.5% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 28.7% | 25.6–31.9% | 21.6% | worse |
| Depression | 23.7% | 20.4–27.2% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 21.8% | 18.1–25.9% | 12.5% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9% | 9.5% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4% | 6.1% | worse |
| Diabetes | 16.8% | 14.9–18.9% | 12.7% | worse |
| COPD | 10% | 8.8–11.2% | 5.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5% | 5.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2% | 3.2% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1% | 15.8–20.5% | 12.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.8% | 12.2–17.6% | 17% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 36.6% | 31.5–41.5% | 27.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40% | 33–47.8% | 38.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.1% | 71.2–78.6% | 73.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 43.4% | 39.6–47.4% | 54.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83% | 81–84.8% | 84.6% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 56% | 50.5–61.5% | 57.9% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 68.6% | 59.5–76.7% | 74.1% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.7% | 75.2–80.1% | 74.1% | better |
| No health insurance | 21.5% | 19–24.3% | 19.1% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 19.5% | 17.4–21.6% | 16.9% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 29.7% | 26.6–33% | 21.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.5% | 15.6–19.5% | 13.2% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.4% | 35.8–44.8% | 30.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 21% | 18.6–23.5% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 19% | 17–21% | 15.1% | |
| Hearing | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2% | 6.3% | |
| Vision | 8.9% | 8.1–9.8% | 6.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 12.2% | 10.9–13.4% | 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 Vernon door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Texas figure falls inside it, we don't call Vernon better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Vernon 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.