Photo: Michel Rathwell from Cornwall, Canada · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Clearwater is healthier than 64%
Clearwater trails Florida on 2 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clearwater. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clearwater
Clearwater is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Clearwater is healthier than 47%. Against the 10,128 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 64%. Health Grade ↓
COPD runs high in Clearwater
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 7.2% across Florida. Conditions ↓
Clearwater has a top-rated hospital
Morton Plant Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Clearwater’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Clearwater’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clearwater is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #375 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 70% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 29%).
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). Clearwater’s median household income is $66,381; among the 10,128 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 114,364 residents, Clearwater is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Clearwater
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Clearwater, 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 Clearwater; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Clearwater adults…
Clearwater runs above FL on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
25 miles of trails across 53 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Clearwater adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Clearwater adults are doing
About the same as Florida on each measure.
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.
16.9% of Clearwater adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Clearwater and the towns around it
Clearwater’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater | B− | 33.3% | 13.5% | 14% | CDC place |
| Dunedin | B+ | 30.4% | 13.3% | 11.5% | CDC place |
| Largo | B− | 32.2% | 13.8% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Safety Harbor | A− | 29.7% | 12% | 10.5% | CDC place |
| Belleair | A | 26.5% | 12.1% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| Greenbriar | B+ | 31% | 12.1% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Belleair Beach | A | 27.9% | 12.6% | 8.6% | CDC place |
| Palm Harbor | B+ | 30.4% | 12.6% | 11.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clearwater adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clearwater
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clearwater is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Clearwater’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clearwater | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.1%18.7–23.5 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.4–16.8 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.9–18.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.3%27.7–39 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%11.8–15.2 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%32.8–40.3 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.9%36.9–44.8 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.4%26.3–32.4 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.3–11.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.5%11.2–16.1 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%12.2–15.9 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.9%22.3–29.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.9–18.5 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.8%31.9–41.8 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.7%12.9–16.4 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%74.8–81.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.4%53.2–59.6 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85.1–88.2 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75–80.9 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67%62.6–71.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.9%65.8–79.2 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%17–23 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.9–28.3 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17%15.4–18.7 | 16.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%12.3–15.4 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9%8–10.1 | 8.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.9%15.4–18.6 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%29.3–36.7 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.2%14.3–18.2 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%13.1–16.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.7–6.7 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8–9.8 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.8 | 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 Clearwater
Is Clearwater a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clearwater is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #375 of 636 in Florida. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clearwater?
CDC estimates 33.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.7% and 39%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clearwater?
Mease Dunedin Hospital in Dunedin, 2.5 miles in a straight line from Clearwater’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clearwater have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.9–16.4%), 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 Clearwater more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clearwater.
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.