Hippard House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Fernandina Beach is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns
Fernandina Beach differs from Florida on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fernandina Beach. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fernandina Beach
Cancer and arthritis run high in Fernandina Beach
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (14.4%), vs 9.1% across Florida. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (33.4%), vs 26.6% across Florida. In all, Fernandina Beach runs above Florida on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 38% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fernandina Beach keeps up with checkups
It beats Florida on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (83.4% vs 78.4%) and dentist visits (66.5% vs 57.4%). Checkups ↓
Fernandina Beach is an active town
Only 18.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.3% across Florida. The town has 23 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves. 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 Fernandina Beach’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Fernandina Beach’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fernandina Beach is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #137 of 636 in Florida. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 94% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). Fernandina Beach’s median household income is $97,903; among the 8,885 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($73K–$122K), it’s healthier than 75%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Fernandina Beach adults…
Fernandina Beach runs below FL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Fernandina Beach is an older town: 38% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Fernandina Beach as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fernandina Beach 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.
23 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Care in and near Fernandina Beach
No hospital or community health center in Fernandina Beach 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 Fernandina Beach; ≈ 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 Fernandina Beach adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Fernandina Beach 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.
7.7% of Fernandina Beach adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Fernandina Beach and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernandina Beach | A− | 32.3% | 12.8% | 9.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fernandina Beach adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fernandina Beach
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fernandina Beach is better than Florida on 17 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Fernandina Beach’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fernandina Beach | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.7%13.7–17.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.9–15.1 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.6–14.6 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.3%27.5–37.5 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11.2–14.5 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.1%37.6–44.8 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 46.1%42.3–49.9 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.4%30.2–36.7 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.3–10.5 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 14.4%13.2–15.7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.5–9.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.6–8.6 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.7%5.4–8.2 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.6%8.2–11.2 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.7%15.8–21.9 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.8–15.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2%26.8–35.8 | 37.3% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%6.5–8.9 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.4%80.9–85.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.5%63.4–69.5 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.1%91.1–93.1 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84.4%82–86.6 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 76.5%72.8–79.9 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.1%74.2–85.1 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.6%14.3–19.2 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.4%15.9–21.2 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%6.5–8.3 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.7%6.8–8.7 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.9%25.6–32.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.9%13–16.9 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.2%9–11.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.7 | 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 Fernandina Beach
Is Fernandina Beach a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fernandina Beach is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #137 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 Fernandina Beach?
CDC estimates 32.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.5% and 37.5%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fernandina Beach?
Baptist Medical Center - Nassau in Fernandina Beach, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Fernandina Beach’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fernandina Beach have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–8.9%), 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 Fernandina Beach 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 Fernandina Beach.
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.