On CDC estimates, Desoto Lakes is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns
Desoto Lakes differs from Florida on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Desoto Lakes. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Desoto Lakes
Depression is more common in Desoto Lakes
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (20.8%), vs 17.1% across Florida. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.5%, vs 15.8% across Florida. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Desoto Lakes
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.9%), 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 Desoto Lakes’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Desoto Lakes’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Desoto Lakes is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 55% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Desoto Lakes’ median household income is $76,417; among the 10,815 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$96K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
How Desoto Lakes adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Desoto Lakes 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Desoto Lakes adults…
Desoto Lakes runs above FL on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Desoto Lakes
No hospital or community health center in Desoto Lakes 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 Desoto Lakes; ≈ 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 Desoto Lakes adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.5% of Desoto Lakes adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Desoto Lakes and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Lakes | C− | 35.6% | 13.8% | 16.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Desoto Lakes adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Desoto Lakes
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Desoto Lakes is better than Florida on 4 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Desoto Lakes’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Desoto Lakes | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.5%22–29.2 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%14.9–19.4 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.3–20.8 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%30.3–41.3 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8%12.1–15.7 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.5%34–41 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%35.8–42.8 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.5%25.9–31.3 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.4 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%7.9–9.6 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7–9.1 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.8%8.2–11.5 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.8%11.3–16.5 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14–20 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.4%26–35 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.6–19.2 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%30.2–39.7 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.7%15.8–22.1 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.2%73.7–80.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.7%60.4–66.8 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.5–85.8 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%74.8–80.1 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.1%61.7–70.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.6%63.2–77.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%18–23.8 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.5–28 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.2%12.6–15.9 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.6–13.6 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.4–9.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.5%10.1–12.9 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3%31.1–39.7 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%15.4–20.8 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.5–19 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.4 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%8.8–11.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.5–6 | 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 Desoto Lakes
Is Desoto Lakes a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Desoto Lakes is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Desoto Lakes?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 41.3%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Desoto Lakes?
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center in Bradenton, 4.1 miles in a straight line from Desoto Lakes’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Desoto Lakes have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.8–22.1%), 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 Desoto Lakes 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 Desoto Lakes.
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.