Willacy County Health Data

Willacy County, Texas

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

10/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

72.8 yr

Uninsured Rate

21.6%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

72.8 yr

State avg 74.3 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

21.6%

State avg 19.8%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

39

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

45

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

36.8%

State avg 23.6%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Dentists

4.9

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

9.9

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 Willacy County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureWillacyState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity44.4%37.7%37.6%6.7 pts worse than state
Diabetes19.0%12.6%11.2%6.4 pts worse than state
High Blood Pressure36.9%33.6%33.5%3.3 pts worse than state
Depression19.4%22.9%24.1%3.5 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureWillacyState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking17.4%15.1%16.3%2.3 pts worse than state
Binge Drinking15.4%18.0%17.8%2.6 pts better than state
Physical Inactivity44.5%30.2%27.0%14.3 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureWillacyState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup70.2%72.2%74.9%2.0 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)40.7%51.0%57.3%10.3 pts worse than state
Mammography (women 50–74)68.8%70.6%73.3%1.8 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureWillacyState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress18.3%18.5%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration41.9%39.4%37.3%2.5 pts worse than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Willacy County nationally on physical inactivity.

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Willacy County reports significantly higher rates of fair or poor health

Health data brief for Willacy County, Texas.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Poor/fair health rate

Willacy County faces a high rate of residents reporting poor or fair health, with 36.8% of adults falling into this category. This figure is more than double the national average of 17%. Life expectancy in the county is 72.8 years, which is lower than the Texas average of 74.3 years and the national average of 77 years. The uninsured rate is 21.6%, exceeding the state average of 19.8% and the national average of 10%. Provider access includes 39 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 45 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, both of which are significantly lower than national medians of 70 and 250, respectively. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Willacy 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

No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Willacy County.

This is common in low-population rural counties. Residents typically travel to a hospital in a neighboring county or larger metro. Use Medicare.gov Care Compare to find rated hospitals statewide or contact a federally-funded community health center for primary and preventive care.

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Willacy County, TX?
Willacy County has a health score of 10/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #221 out of 254 counties in Texas (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Willacy County?
Life expectancy in Willacy County is 72.8 years. The Texas state average is 74.3 years, making Willacy County below the state average.
How does Willacy County health compare to the Texas average?
Willacy County's health score of 10/100 is below the Texas average of 25/100. Life expectancy is 72.8 years vs. the state average of 74.3 years. The uninsured rate is 21.6% vs. 19.8% statewide.
What health factors affect Willacy County?
Key health factors for Willacy County include: life expectancy (72.8 years), uninsured rate (21.6%), and primary care physician access (39:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 45:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Willacy County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 10/100 ("Below Average"), Willacy County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Texas. Residents have a life expectancy of 72.8 years. 21.6% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in Willacy County?
Willacy County's health score of 10/100 is below the Texas average of 25/100. The uninsured rate of 21.6% means a significant portion of residents may face barriers to healthcare. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

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.