Photo: DanTD · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Hernando is healthier than 79%
Hernando differs from Florida on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hernando. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hernando
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Hernando
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.2%), vs 7.2% across Florida. 1 in 8 adults have heart disease (11.9%), vs 7.5% across Florida. Cancer is also above the state: 14%, vs 9.1% across Florida. In all, Hernando runs above Florida on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 39% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Hernando, and more people treating it
44.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Florida 36.6%), but 84.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Hernando
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.3%), vs 12.4% across Florida. Habits ↓
Hernando is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Hernando is healthier than 30%. Against the 3,362 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 79%. 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 Hernando’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Hernando’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hernando is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns, #468 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 71% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Hernando’s median household income is $43,076; among the 3,362 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Hernando compares well: binge drinking, 11.9% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 82.5% (U.S. 77.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 89.5% (U.S. 87.1%).
Out of every 100 Hernando adults…
Hernando runs above FL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Hernando is an older town: 39% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Hernando as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Hernando 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.
17 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Hernando
No hospital or community health center in Hernando 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 Hernando; ≈ 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 Hernando adults are doing
About the same as Florida on each measure.
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.
14.3% of Hernando adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Hernando and the towns around it
Hernando’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hernando | C | 33% | 16.7% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Citrus Springs | C | 33.6% | 14.3% | 16.6% | CDC place |
| Citrus Hills | B+ | 27.9% | 15.8% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Pine Ridge | B− | 29.8% | 16% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Inverness Highlands North | B− | 32.5% | 12.8% | 15.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hernando adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hernando
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hernando is better than Florida on 10 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Hernando’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hernando | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%21–26.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%16–20.1 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.3–18 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33%27.3–39.1 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.7%14.6–19 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.5%40.5–48.6 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 47.4%43.1–51.6 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 38.4%35–42.1 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 14%12.8–15.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 11.9%10.7–13.2 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.2%10.9–13.8 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.5%13.8–19.5 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14.2–18.8 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.5%25.4–34.1 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.8–14.2 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8%32.7–43.1 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.3%9.8–13.1 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.5%79.6–85.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55%51.5–58.4 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%88.1–90.7 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84.5%81.9–86.8 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.2%66.8–75.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.7%64.1–78.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.6%15.8–21.6 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.4–25.5 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%12.3–15.3 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%8.6–10.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.7–7.4 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.7–8.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.3%12.6–15.8 | 15% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39%34.8–43.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.6%19.2–24.4 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.6–15.9 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 12.1%10.9–13.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.2–7.5 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.8–11.1 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 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 Hernando
Is Hernando a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hernando is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #468 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 Hernando?
CDC estimates 33% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.3% and 39.1%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hernando?
HCA Florida Citrus Hospital in Inverness, 9.1 miles in a straight line from Hernando’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hernando have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–13.1%), 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 Hernando more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hernando.
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.