
Innerbody.com has carefully evaluated the data and identified the top 10 healthiest Texas cities, as well as the 10 least healthy cities in the state.
Innerbody.com’s research team closely examined the latest government data from the Centers for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Economic Research Service, among others, in order to evaluate Texas’ 30 largest cities (from Odessa to Houston).
Since everything is bigger in Texas, we pored over extensive data sets, analyzing 20 different factors across the following four key dimensions in order to determine our Health Rankings:
- Clinical Care & Prevention
- Disease & Health Outcomes
- Health Behaviors
- Physical Environment
Among the 20 factors were residents’ access to health care and health insurance; cancer and obesity rates; air quality and lead exposure; and even how much sleep an average resident gets.
Plano takes the top spot this year as the healthiest large city in Texas for 2020, moving up one spot from last year’s rankings. Plano has the highest overall Health Score (78.8) by a decent margin over Frisco, ranked 2nd (73.7), while Austin (69.6) rounds out the top 3.
Plano ranked an impressive #1 or #2 in each of our four dimensions. With outstanding clinical care and prevention, low disease rates, healthy behavioral habits, and a great physical environment, Plano will be tough to beat in the years to come.
Meanwhile, the least healthy large city in Texas for 2020 is Waco (30.2), with Brownsville (33.9) and Laredo (35.4) most narrowly escaping that distinction.
Here are all 20 factors that we used for this study:

Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Healthiest Cities in the Lone Star State for 2020:
Plano

-
Overall Health Score
78.8
-
Population
259,841
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 2 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 2 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 1 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 1 (out of 30)
Frisco

-
Overall Health Score
73.7
-
Population
116,989
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 1 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 1 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 2 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 23 (out of 30)
Austin

-
Overall Health Score
69.6
-
Population
790,390
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 4 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 3 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 3 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 8 (out of 30)
McKinney

-
Overall Health Score
62.8
-
Population
195,342
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 3 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 4 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 4 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 20 (out of 30)
Carrollton

-
Overall Health Score
62.4
-
Population
119,097
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 5 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 5 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 5 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 16 (out of 30)
Irving

-
Overall Health Score
59.4
-
Population
216,290
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 14 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 6 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 9 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 2 (out of 30)
Midland

-
Overall Health Score
58.4
-
Population
111,147
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 13 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 11 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 6 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 3 (out of 30)
El Paso

-
Overall Health Score
54.3
-
Population
649,121
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 17 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 12 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 7 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 14 (out of 30)
Arlington

-
Overall Health Score
53.2
-
Population
365,438
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 9 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 13 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 14 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 9 (out of 30)
Garland

-
Overall Health Score
51.3
-
Population
226,876
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 18 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 10 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 18 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 5 (out of 30)
Below are cities #30 - #21, the least healthy cities in Texas:
Waco

-
Overall Health Score
30.2
-
Population
124,805
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 23 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 28 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 27 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 30 (out of 30)
Brownsville

-
Overall Health Score
33.9
-
Population
175,023
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 29 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 20 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 29 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 24 (out of 30)
Laredo

-
Overall Health Score
35.4
-
Population
236,091
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 30 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 26 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 30 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 15 (out of 30)
Beaumont

-
Overall Health Score
36.1
-
Population
118,296
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 8 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 29 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 28 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 28 (out of 30)
Wichita Falls

-
Overall Health Score
37.9
-
Population
104,553
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 10 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 30 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 23 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 27 (out of 30)
Abilene

-
Overall Health Score
40.1
-
Population
117,063
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 21 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 25 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 22 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 25 (out of 30)
Killeen

-
Overall Health Score
40.9
-
Population
127,921
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 6 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 27 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 26 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 29 (out of 30)
Mesquite

-
Overall Health Score
45.1
-
Population
139,824
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 16 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 16 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 24 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 18 (out of 30)
Fort Worth

-
Overall Health Score
45.2
-
Population
741,206
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 15 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 19 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 21 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 17 (out of 30)
Pasadena

-
Overall Health Score
45.3
-
Population
149,043
-
Care & Prevention
Ranked # 27 (out of 30)
-
Health Behaviors
Ranked # 23 (out of 30)
-
Disease Outcomes
Ranked # 25 (out of 30)
-
Environment
Ranked # 12 (out of 30)
Here are how some of the cities fared in select factors:
Below is how each of the largest 30 cities in Texas was ranked overall, along with how each was ranked in each of our four key dimensions: Care & Prevention, Disease Outcomes, Health Behaviors, and Physical Environment:
Overall Health Rank | City | Population | Overall Health Score | Care & Prevention | Disease Outcomes | Health Behaviors | Physical Environment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Plano | 259,841 | 78.8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2 | Frisco | 116,989 | 73.7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
3 | Austin | 790,390 | 69.6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
4 | McKinney | 195,342 | 62.8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 20 |
5 | Carrollton | 119,097 | 62.4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
6 | Irving | 216,290 | 59.4 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 2 |
7 | Midland | 111,147 | 58.4 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 3 |
8 | El Paso | 649,121 | 54.3 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 14 |
9 | Arlington | 365,438 | 53.2 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
10 | Garland | 226,876 | 51.3 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 5 |
11 | Denton | 113,383 | 50.6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 26 |
12 | Grand Prairie | 175,396 | 50.3 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 21 |
13 | Corpus Christi | 305,215 | 49.6 | 22 | 11 | 22 | 7 |
14 | McAllen | 129,877 | 48.7 | 26 | 10 | 8 | 19 |
15 | Houston | 2,099,451 | 47.9 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 13 |
16 | Dallas | 1,197,816 | 47.5 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 6 |
17 | San Antonio | 1,327,407 | 47.4 | 12 | 12 | 21 | 22 |
18 | Odessa | 99,940 | 47.0 | 28 | 19 | 17 | 4 |
19 | Amarillo | 190,695 | 46.4 | 19 | 16 | 24 | 10 |
20 | Lubbock | 229,573 | 46.2 | 24 | 15 | 18 | 11 |
21 | Pasadena | 149,043 | 45.3 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 12 |
22 | Fort Worth | 741,206 | 45.2 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 17 |
23 | Mesquite | 139,824 | 45.1 | 16 | 24 | 16 | 18 |
24 | Killeen | 127,921 | 40.9 | 6 | 26 | 27 | 29 |
25 | Abilene | 117,063 | 40.1 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 25 |
26 | Wichita Falls | 104,553 | 37.9 | 10 | 23 | 30 | 27 |
27 | Beaumont | 118,296 | 36.1 | 8 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
28 | Laredo | 236,091 | 35.4 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 15 |
29 | Brownsville | 175,023 | 33.9 | 29 | 29 | 20 | 24 |
30 | Waco | 124,805 | 30.2 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 30 |
We examined the 30 largest cities in Texas (from Houston to Odessa) based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau statistics across four key dimensions: Clinical Care & Prevention, Disease & Health Outcomes, Health Behaviors, and Physical Environment. We analyzed 5 metrics within each dimension.
Therefore, for each city we looked at no less than 20 different health factors in total. We graded each metric on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 always representing the healthiest, most favorable conditions.
More detailed information about each metric - including definition, source, and weighting - is as follows:
Clinical Care & Prevention: 25% total weight
Insurance Access: 5% weight
- Measures: Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18–64 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Routine Checkups: 5% weight
- Measures: Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dental Visits: 5% weight
- Measures: Visits to dentist or dental clinic among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Influenza Vaccination: 5% weight
- Measures: Older adults aged ≥65 years who are up to date on a core set of clinical preventive services (influenza or pneumococcal vaccination)
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cholesterol Screening: 5% weight
- Measures: Cholesterol screening among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Disease & Health Outcomes: 25% total weight
Cancer: 5% weight
- Measures: Cancer (excluding skin cancer) among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
High Blood Pressure: 5% weight
- Measures: High blood pressure among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Diabetes: 5% weight
- Measures: Diagnosed diabetes among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Coronary Heart Disease: 5% weight
- Measures: Coronary heart disease among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Asthma: 5% weight
- Measures: Current asthma prevalence among adults aged ≥18 Years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Unhealthy Behaviors: 25% total weight
Smoking: 5% weight
- Measures: Current smoking among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Obesity: 5% weight
- Measures: Obesity among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lack of Physical Activity: 5% weight
- Measures: No leisure-time physical activity among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lack of Sleep: 5% weight
- Measures: Sleeping less than 7 hours among adults aged ≥18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Binge Drinking: 5% weight
- Measures: Binge drinking among adults aged ≥ 18 years
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Physical Environment: 25% total weight
Air Pollution: 5% weight
- Measures: Average daily concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) per cubic meter (average)
- Source: US Environmental Protection Agency
Healthy Food Access: 5% weight
- Measures: Population living more than ½ mile from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store (%)
- Source: Economic Research Service
Lead Exposure Risk: 5% weight
- Measures: Poverty-adjusted risk of housing-based lead exposure (index)
- Source: American Community Survey
Park Access: 5% weight
- Measures: Population living within a 10 minute walk of green space (%)
- Source: ParkServe®
Walkability: 5% weight
- Measures: Neighborhood amenities accessible by walking as calculated by Walk Score® (index)
- Source: Walk Score®
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- Economic Research Service
- American Community Survey
- ParkServe®
- Walk Score®
- Innerbody.com Research
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