Photo: Averette · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Lake Wales is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Lake Wales differs from Florida on 24 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lake Wales. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lake Wales
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Lake Wales
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.9%), vs 7.2% across Florida. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.5%), vs 3.8% across Florida. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.1%, vs 7.5% across Florida. In all, Lake Wales runs above Florida on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Lake Wales
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.9%), vs 16.8% across Florida. Utility shut-off threats (11.9% vs 8.6%) and no reliable transportation (12.5% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 25.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Lake Wales is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lake Wales is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Lake Wales, and more people treating it
43.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Florida 36.6%), but 82% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Wales’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Lake Wales’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Wales is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #577 of 636 in Florida. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 33% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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 Wales’ median household income is $56,347; among the 7,832 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Lake Wales compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Lake Wales adults…
Lake Wales runs above FL on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25.1% of Lake Wales adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lake Wales adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Lake Wales
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lake Wales, 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 Wales; ≈ 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.
7.3 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
How Lake Wales adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lake Wales 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 Wales and the towns around it
Lake Wales’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wales | D | 42.6% | 17.2% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Waverly | — | — | — | — | |
| Dundee | D− | 46.5% | 18.7% | 21.9% | CDC place |
| Winter Haven | C− | 41.5% | 15.5% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Highland Park | — | — | — | — |
Waverly and Highland Park: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lake Wales adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lake Wales
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lake Wales is better than Florida on 1 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Lake Wales’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lake Wales | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28%25.2–30.9 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.7–20.6 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.3–20 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.6%37.3–47.9 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.2%15.3–19.2 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.1%39.7–46.7 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.8%40.3–47.4 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.5%30.6–36.4 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.6–12 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.5–11.3 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%9.2–11.1 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.5%5.1–6 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.9%16.9–23.3 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%14.4–18.6 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.3%29.4–37.3 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10.4–14.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.5%37.8–47.4 | 37.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.3%17.9–22.6 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%77.4–82.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.1%47.9–54.5 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%84.3–87.4 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82%79.8–84.1 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.3%61.9–70.5 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.4%66.4–79.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.7–22 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27%23.8–30.3 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.9%21.8–25.9 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.7%16–19.5 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%11.4–13.6 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.1%23.1–27.2 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.9%38–45.7 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.1%19.8–24.4 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%15.4–18.9 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10%9–11.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.8%8.1–9.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.5%10.4–12.7 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 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 Lake Wales
Is Lake Wales a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Wales is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #577 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lake Wales?
CDC estimates 42.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.3% and 47.9%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lake Wales?
Adventhealth Lake Wales in Lake Wales, 2.7 miles in a straight line from Lake Wales’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lake Wales have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 17.9–22.6%), 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 Wales 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 Wales.
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.