Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Jacksonville as a whole is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns
Jacksonville differs from Florida on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jacksonville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jacksonville
Mental distress runs high in Jacksonville
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.8%), vs 15.8% across Florida. Depression is above the state too: 19.9%, vs 17.1% across Florida. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Jacksonville
1 in 9 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (10.8%), vs 8.6% across Florida. No reliable transportation (11% vs 9.1%) is higher too. 19.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Health varies a lot right around Jacksonville
Grades next door run from Nocatee (A+) to Nassau Village-Ratliff (C−). Jacksonville is a C+. Around town ↓
Jacksonville sleeps less
43.2% of adults sleep under 7 hours a night, vs 37.3% across Florida. Habits ↓
Jacksonville has seven hospitals within its borders
7 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Jacksonville. Mayo Clinic 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 Jacksonville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Jacksonville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jacksonville is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #421 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 60% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Jacksonville’s median household income is $69,872; among the 10,515 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 44%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
At 1,017,689 residents, Jacksonville is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Jacksonville
7 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Jacksonville.
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 Jacksonville; ≈ 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 Jacksonville adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Jacksonville 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.
19.7% of Jacksonville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Jacksonville and the towns around it
Jacksonville’s Health Grade ranks 9th of 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | C+ | 34.8% | 13.2% | 14.8% | CDC place |
| Fruit Cove | A | 27.9% | 9.1% | 9% | CDC place |
| Atlantic Beach | A− | 29.4% | 11.3% | 11% | CDC place |
| Orange Park | B− | 34.1% | 14.5% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Nassau Village-Ratliff | C− | 37.7% | 13.3% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| Jacksonville Beach | A | 28.3% | 9.3% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Neptune Beach | A | 27.6% | 8.7% | 9% | CDC place |
| Oakleaf Plantation | B+ | 35.8% | 10.5% | 12.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
436 miles of trails across 218 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Jacksonville adults…
Jacksonville runs below FL on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Jacksonville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jacksonville adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jacksonville
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jacksonville is better than Florida on 4 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Jacksonville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jacksonville | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%19.4–23.7 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%13–16.1 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.9–20.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%30.1–39.7 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.7–14.8 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.7%32.5–39 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.1%30.8–37.5 | 39% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.4%22.9–28 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.7–8 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.8–7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.5–4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.3%12.8–18 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.8%13.1–16.6 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.9%24.6–31.3 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.9–17.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.2%38.5–48 | 37.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.9%12.4–15.5 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%73.2–79.2 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.9%50.7–57 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%83.3–86.4 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%72.8–77.9 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%62.5–70.9 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%71.2–83.1 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.9%17.3–22.7 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%23.9–30.6 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.8%18–21.6 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.5%14.7–18.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.8%9.5–12 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11%9.9–11.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.7%17.9–21.4 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.9%28.7–35.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%13.2–16.4 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%14.1–17 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.9–6.8 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.5–10.1 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.2–4.9 | 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 Jacksonville
Is Jacksonville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jacksonville is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #421 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jacksonville?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 39.7%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jacksonville?
Shands Jacksonville in Jacksonville, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Jacksonville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jacksonville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.4–15.5%), 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 Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville.
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.