Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 2.5On CDC estimates, Bartow is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns
Bartow differs from Florida on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bartow. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bartow
Making ends meet is harder in Bartow
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.6%), vs 16.8% across Florida. Utility shut-off threats (11% vs 8.6%) and no reliable transportation (11.2% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 20.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Bartow
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (19%), vs 15.8% across Florida. Depression is above the state too: 20.3%, vs 17.1% across Florida. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Bartow
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.5%), vs 12.4% across Florida. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Florida figure falls outside Bartow’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Bartow’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bartow is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns, #511 of 636 in Florida. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 43% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bartow’s median household income is $68,178; among the 10,343 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 24%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.7% of Bartow adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
How Bartow adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Bartow runs above Florida.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Bartow adults…
Bartow runs below FL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bartow
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Bartow, 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 Bartow; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Bartow adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Bartow and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartow | C− | 40.4% | 13.2% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| Highland City | B | 36.8% | 10.5% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Homeland | — | — | — | — |
Homeland: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bartow adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bartow
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bartow is better than Florida on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Bartow’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bartow | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%20.8–25.9 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.4–17.9 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%17.1–21.1 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.4%35.3–45.8 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.8–14.8 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.1%33–39.5 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%35.8–42.8 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.6%25.1–30.5 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.6–12 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.5–7.9 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.2%7.4–9.2 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.8–4.4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.4%13.8–19.4 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5%13.7–17.7 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.2%24.9–32.1 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.9–18 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.3%38.5–48.3 | 37.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.5%14.7–18.6 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.5%74.4–80.5 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54%50.8–57.4 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%83–86.3 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%75.4–80.2 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.7%60.4–68.9 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%68.5–81.2 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.3%17.6–23.2 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%24–30.7 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.6%18.7–22.5 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.7%15–18.5 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11%9.8–12.3 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.2%10.3–12.3 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.7%18.8–22.7 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%32.8–40.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.8%15–18.8 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.9–18.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.3 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.8–10.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Florida figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bartow
Is Bartow a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bartow is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #511 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 24%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bartow?
CDC estimates 40.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.3% and 45.8%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bartow?
Bartow Regional Medical Center in Bartow, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Bartow’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bartow have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.7–18.6%), against 15.9% across Florida.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bartow more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bartow.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Florida figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.