Cortez Historic District · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Cortez is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns
Cortez differs from Florida on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cortez. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cortez
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Cortez
1 in 6 adults have had cancer (17.5%), about twice the Florida rate. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (11.7%), vs 7.5% across Florida. Arthritis is also above the state: 38.9%, vs 26.6% across Florida. In all, Cortez runs above Florida on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 51% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Cortez, and more people treating it
47.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Florida 36.6%), but 86.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Cortez keeps up with checkups
It beats Florida on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (85.9% vs 78.4%) and dentist visits (65.4% vs 57.4%). Checkups ↓
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 Cortez’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Cortez’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cortez is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, #242 of 636 in Florida. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 97% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Cortez’s median household income is $79,895; among the 10,754 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 73%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Cortez adults…
Cortez runs above FL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Cortez is an older town: 51% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Cortez as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cortez adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Cortez
No hospital or community health center in Cortez 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 Cortez; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Cortez adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Cortez 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.
8.1% of Cortez adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Cortez and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortez | B+ | 29.6% | 15.8% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Bradenton Beach | — | — | — | — |
Bradenton Beach: 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 Cortez adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cortez
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cortez is better than Florida on 14 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Cortez’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cortez | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.4%15.8–21.3 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.1–17.1 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.6–13.6 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.6%24.8–34.9 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.8%13.7–17.9 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.2%43.1–51.2 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 49.8%45.6–53.7 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 38.9%35.2–42.6 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 17.5%16–19.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 11.7%10.4–13.1 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.8%8.3–11.4 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.6%9.5–13.8 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.2%8.4–12.1 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 23.6%19.8–27.6 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 10.8%8.9–12.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.7%27.8–37.5 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.4–9.4 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 85.9%83.6–88.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.4%62.1–68.4 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 93.6%92.7–94.5 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 86.6%84.2–88.7 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 77.5%73.6–80.8 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.5%68.5–81.1 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.3%13.9–18.8 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.9%17.1–22.8 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9%8–10.1 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.3%5.5–7.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.1%7.2–9.2 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.9%31.7–40.2 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.7%16.1–21.7 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.5%9–12 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 12.1%10.8–13.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.4–4.6 | 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 Cortez
Is Cortez a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cortez is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #242 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cortez?
CDC estimates 29.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.8% and 34.9%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cortez?
HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton, 3.1 miles in a straight line from Cortez’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cortez have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9.4%), 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 Cortez more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cortez.
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.