Howard County Health Data
Howard County, Texas
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
13/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
71.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
19.8%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
71.5 yr
State avg 74.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
19.8%
State avg 19.8%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
21
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
229
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
23.8%
State avg 23.6%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
9.1
per 100K residentsCDC: 20.5 per 100K
Dentists
6.0
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
15.1
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Howard County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 38.2% | 37.7% | 37.6% | near state average |
| Diabetes | 13.1% | 12.6% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 33.8% | 33.6% | 33.5% | near state average |
| Depression | 22.0% | 22.9% | 24.1% | 0.9 pts better than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 14.9% | 15.1% | 16.3% | near state average |
| Binge Drinking | 18.0% | 18.0% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 31.9% | 30.2% | 27.0% | 1.7 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 71.7% | 72.2% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 49.5% | 51.0% | 57.3% | 1.5 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 69.0% | 70.6% | 73.3% | 1.6 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.2% | 18.5% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 39.1% | 39.4% | 37.3% | near state average |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Howard County nationally on physical inactivity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Life Expectancy in Howard County Trails State and National Averages
Health data brief for Howard County, Texas.
The average life expectancy in Howard County is 71.5 years, a figure that is shorter than the Texas average of 74.3 years and the national average of 77 years. This is the county’s most pronounced health metric when compared to broader standards. The local uninsured rate is 19.8%, which is the same as the state average for Texas but nearly twice the national rate of 10%. Furthermore, 23.8% of residents report being in poor or fair health, exceeding the national average of 17%. Clinical data shows 21 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, below the national median of 70. However, the mental health provider ratio is 229 per 100,000, which is closer to the national median of 250 than many neighboring counties. Explore the CDC County Health Rankings for further state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Howard County, Texas
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Scenic Mountain Medical Center
ERBig Spring State Hospital
eHealth Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.