Waco, TX health
Waco differs from Texas on 9 of 33 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (17.8% vs 12.5%) and more adults with COPD (7% vs 5.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WacoWaco’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Waco is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, and than 49% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Waco is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is 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 Waco 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. Waco 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 Waco 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 Waco adults…
Bars show Waco; 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 Waco adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
How Waco adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Waco adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Texas. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Waco 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 Waco.
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 Waco
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Waco, 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 Waco. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Waco
| Measure | Waco | Margin | Texas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 33.9% | 30.1–37.8% | 33.1% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 32.2% | 28.3–36.2% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.8% | 29.2–44.6% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 22.2% | 19.5–24.8% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Depression | 24.3% | 20.7–27.9% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 17.8% | 15–21% | 12.5% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2% | 9.5% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 5.7% | 5.1–6.2% | 6.1% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 13% | 11.4–14.7% | 12.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 7% | 6.3–7.8% | 5.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5% | 5.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9% | 3.2% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1% | 13.1–17.1% | 12.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 16.2% | 13.2–19.4% | 17% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 31.4% | 26.9–35.9% | 27.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.2% | 34.8–48.3% | 38.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 73.2% | 68.9–76.9% | 73.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 46.7% | 43.3–50.4% | 54.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 79.9% | 77.7–81.9% | 84.6% | worse |
| Colon screening | 58.9% | 53.7–64% | 57.9% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 71.4% | 63.4–78.9% | 74.1% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 72.7% | 69.9–75.1% | 74.1% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 20.4% | 18.2–22.5% | 19.1% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 20.4% | 18.2–22.6% | 16.9% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 26% | 23.2–28.8% | 21.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.9% | 13.1–16.6% | 13.2% | about the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36% | 31.7–40.3% | 30.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 15.9% | 14–17.7% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 19.3% | 17.3–21.2% | 15.1% | |
| Hearing | 6.6% | 5.8–7.3% | 6.3% | |
| Vision | 7.9% | 7.3–8.5% | 6.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.2% | 4.8–5.6% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 11.4% | 10.3–12.6% | 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.