Photo: Astrophobe · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Bear Creek is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Bear Creek differs from Florida on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bear Creek. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bear Creek
Bear Creek is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bear Creek is healthier than 78%. Against the 10,182 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 95%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Bear Creek
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.2%), vs 9.1% across Florida. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31%), vs 26.6% across Florida. Conditions ↓
Bear Creek keeps up with checkups
It beats Florida on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (64.1% vs 57.4%) and cholesterol checks (89.6% vs 87%). Checkups ↓
Bear Creek is an active town
Only 20.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.3% across Florida. Habits ↓
Bear Creek is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A− tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is St. Petersburg (B+). Around town ↓
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 Bear Creek’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Bear Creek’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bear Creek is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 87% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Bear Creek’s median household income is $66,923; among the 10,182 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 95%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Bear Creek adults…
Bear Creek runs below FL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bear Creek adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Bear Creek and the towns around it
Bear Creek has the best Health Grade of the 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek | A− | 30.4% | 12.5% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Gulfport | B | 31.8% | 14.2% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| South Pasadena | B− | 28.8% | 17.2% | 9.9% | CDC place |
| St. Petersburg | B+ | 32.7% | 12.2% | 12.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Bear Creek
No hospital or community health center in Bear Creek itself. These are the nearest.
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 Bear Creek; ≈ 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).
How Bear Creek adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Bear Creek does better than 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.1% of Bear Creek adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bear Creek adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bear Creek
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bear Creek is better than Florida on 12 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Bear Creek’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bear Creek | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.6%13.6–19.9 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.2–15.5 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.3–16.4 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.4%24.9–36.3 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.6–14.7 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.9%32.9–41 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.9%38.8–47.1 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31%27.5–34.7 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.2%11–13.5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7–9.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.1–9.5 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.3–12.5 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.4%7.9–13.2 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.4%16.3–24.9 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13–18.6 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.8%28.2–37.6 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%6.6–10.8 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%76.9–83.2 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.1%60.9–67.2 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.6%87.8–91.2 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%77.3–83.5 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.8%69.7–77.6 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%67.7–80.5 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.7%16.7–22.9 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.6%17.8–23.7 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.6%8.6–10.8 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.1%8–10.2 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.9%24.6–33.5 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.1%11.5–17 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%9.6–13.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.1–9.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%3.8–5.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%5.7–8.3 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.8–4.2 | 4.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Bear Creek
Is Bear Creek a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bear Creek is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bear Creek?
CDC estimates 30.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.9% and 36.3%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bear Creek?
HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital A Part of HCA Florid in Saint Petersburg, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Bear Creek’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Bear Creek have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–10.8%), 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 Bear Creek more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bear Creek.
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.