Photo: Indietop20 at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Fort Meade is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Fort Meade differs from Florida on 26 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fort Meade. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fort Meade
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Fort Meade
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.6%), vs 7.2% across Florida. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 3.8% across Florida. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.7%, vs 7.5% across Florida. In all, Fort Meade runs above Florida on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fort Meade is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Fort Meade is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Fort Meade
45.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 24% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Fort Meade, and more people treating it
42.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Florida 36.6%), but 80.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fort Meade is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Fort Meade is healthier than 3%. Against the 1,551 towns with similar household incomes ($27K–$46K), it’s healthier than 22%. Health Grade ↓
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 Fort Meade’s likely range.
What’s behind Fort Meade’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Meade is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #620 of 636 in Florida. All seven of Fort Meade’s estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 20.5% of adults, against 14.3% across Florida and 13% nationally.
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). Fort Meade’s median household income is $36,657; among the 1,551 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$46K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Fort Meade compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.8% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Fort Meade adults…
Fort Meade runs above FL on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fort Meade adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Fort Meade
No hospital or community health center in Fort Meade 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 Fort Meade; ≈ 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.
7.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Fort Meade adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Fort Meade 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.3% of Fort Meade adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Fort Meade and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Meade | D− | 43.9% | 17.9% | 19.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fort Meade adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fort Meade
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fort Meade is better than Florida on 1 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Fort Meade’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fort Meade | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32%28.9–35.5 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.4–22.7 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%18–22.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.9%38.6–49.3 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.9%16–20 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.5%39.2–45.9 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.2%39.7–46.7 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 32.8%29.9–35.7 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.4 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.4–10 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.7%9.7–11.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.6%11.3–14.1 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.4–6.4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24%20.3–28.1 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.8%17.4–22.5 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.2%33.1–41.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%11.1–15.5 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.8%38.9–48.8 | 37.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 24.2%21.3–27.3 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%74.9–80.6 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.3%42.1–48.8 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%81–84.6 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78.7–82.9 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59%54.5–63.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%64.6–78.5 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.8–23.4 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.8%24.5–31.2 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.6%23.3–27.8 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.4%16.5–20.3 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.7–13.5 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.2%12–14.3 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.3%24.9–29.7 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.4%41.3–49.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.1%21.7–26.7 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20%18–22.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.5%9.5–11.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%9.3–11.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.2%11.9–14.7 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 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 Fort Meade
Is Fort Meade a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Meade is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #620 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fort Meade?
CDC estimates 43.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.6% and 49.3%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fort Meade?
Bartow Regional Medical Center in Bartow, 7.5 miles in a straight line from Fort Meade’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fort Meade have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 24.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 21.3–27.3%), 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 Fort Meade more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fort Meade.
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.