Howard County
TexasFIPS 48227
Pop. 34,8606 HospitalsSVI 0.88RUCC 4 (Urban Adj.)PC HPSADental HPSAMH HPSA
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Howard County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 13.8% | 13.4% | ▲ |
| Adult Obesity | 41.6% | 39.3% | ▲ |
| Uninsured Rate | 19.8% | 19.8% | ▲ |
| PCPs per 10K | 2.1 | 4.5 | ▲ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 11,671.649 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
6
Primary Care Physicians
19.6 per 100k
53
NPs & PAs
173.5 per 100k
19
Dentists
373
Hospital Beds
12.2 per 1,000
$11,906.31
Medicare Per Capita
1925.0%
Readmission Rate
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Howard County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 14.8% | — | |
| Obesity | 38.7% | — | |
| Depression | 22.2% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 17.9% | — | |
| COPD | 7.4% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 15.6% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 7.1% | — | |
| Stroke | 3.8% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 36.8% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 26.5% | — | |
| Disability | 36.2% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 33.1% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 16.9% | — | |
| Uninsured | 23.4% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Explore financial data, AHEAD readiness, and community benefit for Howard's 6 hospitals.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall0.88
Socioeconomic Status0.78
Household Composition & Disability0.77
Minority Status & Language0.89
Housing Type & Transportation0.92
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
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Primary Care
Designated Shortage Area
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Dental Health
Designated Shortage Area
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Mental Health
Designated Shortage Area
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Hospitals in Howard County
| Hospital | City | Beds | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Spring State Hospital | Big Spring | 160 | Rural |
| Cowper Clinic | Big Spring | 37 | Rural |
| Medical Arts Clinic Hosp | Big Spring | 304 | Rural |
| Scenic Mountain Medical Center | Big Spring | 146 | Rural |
| Us Air Force Hosp | Big Spring | 33 | Rural |
| West Texas Va Healthcare System | Big Spring | 250 | Rural |
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Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.