Photo: JonathanPuello · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Fort Pierce is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Fort Pierce differs from Florida on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fort Pierce. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fort Pierce
Dental care lags in Fort Pierce
43.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 24.1% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Fort Pierce
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (33.7%), about twice the Florida rate. Utility shut-off threats (17.7% vs 8.6%) and no reliable transportation (17.4% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 36.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Fort Pierce
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.7%), vs 7.2% across Florida. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 3.8% across Florida. Diabetes is also above the state: 18.5%, vs 13.5% across Florida. In all, Fort Pierce runs above Florida on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Pierce’s likely range.
What’s behind Fort Pierce’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Pierce is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, #605 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 36% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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 Pierce’s median household income is $47,072; among the 4,691 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fort Pierce 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.
36.7% of Fort Pierce adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Out of every 100 Fort Pierce adults…
Fort Pierce runs below FL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Fort Pierce
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Fort Pierce, 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 Fort Pierce; ≈ 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.
6.8 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves
How Fort Pierce adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Fort Pierce 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.
Fort Pierce and the towns around it
Fort Pierce’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Pierce | D | 37.9% | 18.5% | 20.2% | CDC place |
| Fort Pierce North | D | 38.9% | 19% | 18.9% | CDC place |
| Fort Pierce South | C | 33.3% | 13.7% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| White City | C+ | 30.2% | 13.5% | 15.7% | CDC place |
| Indian River Estates | C− | 32.1% | 16.8% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| St. Lucie Village | — | — | — | — |
St. Lucie Village: 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 Fort Pierce adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fort Pierce
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fort Pierce is better than Florida on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Fort Pierce’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fort Pierce | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.3%28.5–34.3 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.3–21.2 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.4%18.4–22.4 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.9%32.2–43.7 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.5%16.6–20.6 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.6%40–47.1 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%36–43.3 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.4%27.5–33.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.4–8.8 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.8–10.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.7%10.7–12.8 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.4–6.2 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.1%20.8–27.8 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.2%18–22.6 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36%31.9–40.2 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%10.3–14.6 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.1%36.6–47.5 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 23.5%21.2–25.7 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.7–79.9 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 43.2%39.9–46.4 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%81.3–84.6 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.5%76.1–80.7 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%57.3–66.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%64.8–78.5 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.5%15.9–21.2 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.3%26.8–33.9 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.7%31.4–36.1 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.5%22.3–26.7 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.7%15.9–19.5 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.4%16–18.8 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36.7%34.4–39 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.7%37.7–45.7 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.8%20.7–25.1 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.9%18.1–21.8 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.2%10.4–12 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.8%12.6–15 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8%7.4–8.7 | 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 Pierce
Is Fort Pierce a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Pierce is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health, #605 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fort Pierce?
CDC estimates 37.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.2% and 43.7%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fort Pierce?
HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Fort Pierce’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fort Pierce have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 23.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 21.2–25.7%), 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 Pierce more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fort Pierce.
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.