Morgan-Townsend House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Lake Kerr is healthier than 58%
Lake Kerr differs from Florida on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lake Kerr. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lake Kerr
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Lake Kerr
1 in 7 adults have COPD (15.2%), about twice the Florida rate. 1 in 7 adults have heart disease (13.7%), vs 7.5% across Florida. Stroke is also above the state: 6.5%, vs 3.8% across Florida. In all, Lake Kerr runs above Florida on ten of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 47% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Lake Kerr
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.9%), vs 12.4% across Florida. Habits ↓
In Lake Kerr, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 12.5% of working-age adults are uninsured (Florida 15.9%), yet 27.2% say their health is fair or poor, vs 20.3% across the state. Checkups ↓
Lake Kerr is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Lake Kerr is healthier than 16%. Against the 3,162 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 58%. 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 Lake Kerr’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Lake Kerr’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Kerr is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 55% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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 Kerr’s median household income is $42,411; among the 3,162 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Lake Kerr compares well: binge drinking, 11.6% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 83.5% (U.S. 77.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 89.5% (U.S. 87.1%).
Out of every 100 Lake Kerr adults…
Lake Kerr runs above FL on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Lake Kerr is an older town: 47% 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 Lake Kerr as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lake Kerr adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Lake Kerr
No hospital or community health center in Lake Kerr 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 Lake Kerr; ≈ 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 Lake Kerr adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lake Kerr 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.
15.6% of Lake Kerr adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Lake Kerr and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Kerr | C− | 37.6% | 18.5% | 18.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lake Kerr adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lake Kerr
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lake Kerr is better than Florida on 8 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Lake Kerr’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lake Kerr | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.2%23.5–30.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%17.9–22.8 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.8–18.8 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.6%32.1–43.6 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.5%16.2–20.9 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.6%44.6–52.6 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 47.5%43.5–51.7 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 41.2%37.6–44.9 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 14.7%13.4–16.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 13.7%12.2–15.2 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 15.2%13.2–17.3 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21%17.6–24.6 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%15.9–22 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.9%25.4–34.6 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.6%9.7–13.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.9%31.1–41 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.5%10.3–15.1 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.5%80.8–86 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%52.7–59.6 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%88–90.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 85.4%83–87.6 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.2%66.7–75.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%69.8–82 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.6%17.7–23.8 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20.6–27 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.7%14–17.4 | 16.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.6%9.4–12 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%6.1–7.9 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.5–9.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.6%13.9–17.4 | 15% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.6%37.2–46.2 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.9%21.8–28.2 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%13.7–17.7 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 13.1%11.7–14.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8%7–8.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%9.9–12.9 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 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 Kerr
Is Lake Kerr a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Kerr is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lake Kerr?
CDC estimates 37.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.1% and 43.6%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lake Kerr?
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka, 19.7 miles in a straight line from Lake Kerr’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lake Kerr have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–15.1%), 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 Lake Kerr 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 Kerr.
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.