Photo: Rbrko · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Gainesville is healthier than 97%
Gainesville differs from Florida on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gainesville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gainesville
Gainesville is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Gainesville is healthier than 69%. Against the 4,411 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 97%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Gainesville
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (21.3%), vs 15.8% across Florida. Depression is above the state too: 22.2%, vs 17.1% across Florida. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Gainesville
Gainesville runs below Florida on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.2% vs 9.1%), heart disease (4.5% vs 7.5%) and diabetes (8.8% vs 13.5%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Gainesville doesn’t win on
17.8% of adults binge drink, vs 14.6% across Florida, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Gainesville has a five-star hospital
Uf Health Shands Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Gainesville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind Gainesville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gainesville is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns, #219 of 636 in Florida. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 92% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Gainesville’s median household income is $46,195; among the 4,411 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 148,671 residents, Gainesville is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
How Gainesville adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Gainesville 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.
Out of every 100 Gainesville adults…
Gainesville runs below FL on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Gainesville residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
62 miles of trails across 61 parks and preserves
Care in and near Gainesville
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Gainesville, 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 Gainesville; ≈ 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 Gainesville 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.
21.9% of Gainesville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Gainesville and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | B+ | 31.2% | 8.8% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Alachua | A− | 32.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gainesville adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gainesville
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gainesville is better than Florida on 11 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Gainesville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gainesville | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19%17–21.3 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.8–13.6 | 14.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.3%19.3–23.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.2%26.3–36.8 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.8%24–29.8 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.2%27.2–33.5 | 39% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.5%15.6–19.6 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.5–12 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.8–5.7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%5.1–6.2 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.4–2.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.8%11.5–16.1 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.8%10.4–13.4 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.2%19.2–25.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.8%14.9–21.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%32.6–42.2 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.9%12.3–15.7 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.8%71.2–78.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.9%48.5–55.1 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 76.3%73.9–78.7 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66.9%64.5–69.3 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65%60.6–69.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%66.5–79.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%19.2–25.5 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.5%23.3–29.9 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.4%19.5–23.3 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.8%14.1–17.5 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.5–11.9 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%12.3–14.5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.9%20–23.8 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.4%29–36.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.4%9.3–11.7 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.7%17–20.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.8–6.8 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%9.1–11.1 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.3–3.8 | 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 Gainesville
Is Gainesville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gainesville is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #219 of 636 in Florida. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gainesville?
CDC estimates 31.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.3% and 36.8%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gainesville?
Uf Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, 2.7 miles in a straight line from Gainesville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gainesville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.3–15.7%), 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville.
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.