Koreshan Unity Settlement Historic District · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Estero is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Estero differs from Florida on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Estero. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Estero
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Estero
1 in 6 adults have had cancer (16.5%), vs 9.1% across Florida. 35.9% of adults have arthritis, vs 26.6% across Florida. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.8%, vs 7.5% across Florida. In all, Estero runs above Florida on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 52% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Estero, and more people treating it
42.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Florida 36.6%), but 85.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Estero keeps up with checkups
It beats Florida on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.9% vs 78.4%) and dentist visits (69.4% 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 Estero’s likely range.
What’s behind Estero’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Estero is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #112 of 636 in Florida. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 98% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 27%).
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). Estero’s median household income is $104,102; among the 7,971 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$130K), it’s healthier than 75%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Estero adults…
Estero runs below FL on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Estero is an older town: 52% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Estero as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Estero adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Estero
1 community health center in Estero, 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 Estero; ≈ 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.
32 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Estero adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Estero 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.
5.9% of Estero adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Estero and the towns around it
Estero’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estero | A− | 25.6% | 13.7% | 8.1% | CDC place |
| Bonita Springs | B+ | 27.4% | 14.6% | 9.8% | CDC place |
| San Carlos Park | B+ | 30.3% | 10.4% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Three Oaks | A | 27.8% | 8.5% | 10.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Estero adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Estero
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Estero is better than Florida on 19 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Estero’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Estero | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15%13.2–17 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.5–14.4 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.5–13.1 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.6%21.5–30.1 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 13.7%12.1–15.6 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.7%39.2–46.4 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45.6%42–49.4 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 35.9%32.8–39.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 16.5%15.2–17.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.7%6.9–8.7 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.3%4–4.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7%5.7–8.5 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.1%7–9.4 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21%18.1–24.3 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.9–13.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.8%24.6–33.2 | 37.3% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.5–10.1 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.9%82.6–87 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.4%66.5–72.4 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.5%91.5–93.4 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 85.1%82.8–87.2 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 78.3%74.7–81.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%73.7–84.7 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.9%13.8–18.4 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.6%16–21.4 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.4%6.5–8.3 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.7%4.2–5.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6%26.4–33.2 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.6%12.9–16.5 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.6%8.6–10.7 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.7–7.1 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Estero
Is Estero a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Estero is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #112 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 75%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Estero?
CDC estimates 25.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.5% and 30.1%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Estero?
Gulf Coast Medical Center Lee Health in Fort Myers, 8.7 miles in a straight line from Estero’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Estero have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.1%), 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 Estero 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 Estero.
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.