On CDC estimates, Lake Sarasota is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns
Lake Sarasota differs from Florida on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lake Sarasota. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lake Sarasota
Binge drinking is the habit Lake Sarasota doesn’t win on
19.6% of adults binge drink, vs 14.6% across Florida, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Depression runs high in Lake Sarasota
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (20.8%), vs 17.1% across Florida. Conditions ↓
Diabetes and heart disease are less common in Lake Sarasota
Lake Sarasota runs below Florida on diabetes (9.6% vs 13.5%), heart disease (5.5% vs 7.5%) and stroke (2.9% vs 3.8%). A young population is part of it: only 15% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%). 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 Sarasota’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Lake Sarasota’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Sarasota is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns, #157 of 636 in Florida. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 85% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 53%.
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 Sarasota’s median household income is $92,429; among the 9,657 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$116K), it’s healthier than 75%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Lake Sarasota adults…
Lake Sarasota runs below FL on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lake Sarasota
No hospital or community health center in Lake Sarasota 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 Sarasota; ≈ 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 Lake Sarasota adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Lake Sarasota adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lake Sarasota 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.
8.9% of Lake Sarasota adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Lake Sarasota and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Sarasota | A− | 31% | 9.6% | 12.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lake Sarasota adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lake Sarasota
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lake Sarasota is better than Florida on 13 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Lake Sarasota’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lake Sarasota | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.7%14–19.6 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.2–14.9 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.7–19.1 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31%25.8–36.5 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.6%8.2–11.1 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.2%27.8–34.7 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%33.1–40.2 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.4%21.7–27.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.7–9.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.2–7.5 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.5–3.2 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.3%6.7–10.1 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%10.1–15.7 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21%17.4–25 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.6%16.6–22.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35%30.4–40 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.4%9.2–14.2 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%73.1–79.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.2%59.9–66.3 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%84.1–88 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.2%72.2–78 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.3%62.9–71.5 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73%66–79.5 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%17.8–24 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%19.6–25.7 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.9%9.6–12.1 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.3–6.8 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.8%6.1–7.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.9%7.8–9.9 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.4%22.6–30.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.5%9.6–13.4 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13%11–15.1 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.2–6.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.6–4.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.7–7.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.6–3.5 | 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 Lake Sarasota
Is Lake Sarasota a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Sarasota is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns: ≈ A− for health, #157 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 75%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lake Sarasota?
CDC estimates 31% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.8% and 36.5%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lake Sarasota?
HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital in Sarasota, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Lake Sarasota’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lake Sarasota have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–14.2%), 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 Sarasota more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lake Sarasota.
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.