Photo: Excel23 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Lake City is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Lake City differs from Florida on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lake City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lake City
Making ends meet is harder in Lake City
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.7%), vs 16.8% across Florida. Utility shut-off threats (13.5% vs 8.6%) and no reliable transportation (13.4% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 26.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Lake City
47.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 18.1% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
COPD, obesity and stroke run high in Lake City
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 7.2% across Florida. 2 in 5 adults have obesity (41.4%), vs 31.9% across Florida. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.8% across Florida. In all, Lake City runs above Florida on five 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 Lake City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Lake City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake City is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #570 of 636 in Florida. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 24% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Lake City’s median household income is $56,472; among the 7,871 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 19%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.5% of Lake City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lake City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Out of every 100 Lake City adults…
Lake City runs below FL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lake City
1 hospital in Lake City, 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 Lake City; ≈ 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.
8.7 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
How Lake City adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lake City 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.
Lake City and the towns around it
Lake City has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City | D | 41.4% | 16.1% | 17.7% | CDC place |
| Watertown | D− | 44% | 19.6% | 22.2% | CDC place |
| Five Points | D | 41.9% | 13.7% | 23% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lake City adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lake City
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lake City is better than Florida on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Lake City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lake City | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.3%22.6–28.1 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.6–18.2 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.7–20.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.4%36–47 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.2–18 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.1%38.6–45.6 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%35.3–42.5 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.5%26.7–32.3 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.2–8.7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.4–5.1 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.1%15.1–21.5 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%15.5–20.2 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.7%28.7–36.9 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%11–15.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%35.6–46.4 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.7%13.7–17.8 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%75.6–81.7 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.8%44.3–51.6 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%82.4–85.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%75.4–80.2 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.7%56.9–66.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.2%65–78.8 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.3%16.5–22.1 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.5%24.2–30.9 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.7%22.6–26.8 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.5%17.5–21.4 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.5%12–14.9 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%12.3–14.5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.5%24.4–28.5 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.6%31.9–39.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.7%16.8–20.9 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%15.4–19.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–8.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%7.2–8.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.9–12.3 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.3–6.3 | 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 Lake City
Is Lake City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake City is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #570 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 19%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lake City?
CDC estimates 41.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 36% and 47%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lake City?
HCA Florida Lake City Hospital in Lake City, 5.7 miles in a straight line from Lake City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lake City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.7–17.8%), 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 Lake City 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 Lake City.
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.