Photo: Connor J. Williams · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Lakeland as a whole is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns
Lakeland trails Florida on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lakeland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lakeland
Depression is more common in Lakeland
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (19.9%), vs 17.1% across Florida. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.3%, vs 15.8% across Florida. Mind & connection ↓
Obesity and COPD run high in Lakeland
2 in 5 adults have obesity (38.9%), vs 31.9% across Florida. 1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 7.2% across Florida. In all, Lakeland runs above Florida on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Lakeland
Grades next door run from Lakeland Highlands (A−) to Combee Settlement (D−). Lakeland is a C. Around town ↓
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 Lakeland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Lakeland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakeland is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns, #472 of 636 in Florida. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 57% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 23%).
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). Lakeland’s median household income is $64,185; among the 9,757 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
At 125,520 residents, Lakeland is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
How Lakeland adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Lakeland 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.
Out of every 100 Lakeland adults…
Lakeland runs above FL on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Lakeland and the towns around it
Lakeland’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | C | 38.9% | 13.3% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Crystal Lake | D | 43.9% | 14.1% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Combee Settlement | D− | 46.6% | 16.4% | 23.2% | CDC place |
| Polk City | C | 39.3% | 12.9% | 15.4% | CDC place |
| Plant City | C | 33.9% | 13.8% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Lakeland Highlands | A− | 34.4% | 10.8% | 10.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Lakeland
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lakeland, 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 Lakeland; ≈ 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.
22 miles of trails across 20 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lakeland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.7% of Lakeland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lakeland adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lakeland
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lakeland is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Lakeland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lakeland | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.7%20.5–25.1 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.3–17.5 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.4–20.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%33.8–44.1 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.8–14.9 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.4%33.2–39.6 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.9%36.5–43.3 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.3%25.7–30.9 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–9.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7.1–8.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.1%13.6–19 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%12.4–15.9 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.8%24.5–31.3 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.5–17.4 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.6%37–46.6 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.4%14.7–18.3 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.1%75.1–81 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.8%51.6–58.1 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%83.3–86.5 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.7–81.2 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.7%60.3–69 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%67–80.2 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.9%17.2–22.6 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.5%22.4–28.8 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.7%17–20.5 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%13.3–16.5 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.8%8.7–11 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.5%9.6–11.5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.7%17.1–20.4 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.6%33.1–40.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%15.4–18.8 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%14.5–17.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.3–8.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.3–7.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.8–10.6 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.4–5.1 | 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 Lakeland
Is Lakeland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakeland is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #472 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lakeland?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.8% and 44.1%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lakeland?
Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Lakeland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lakeland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.7–18.3%), 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 Lakeland 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 Lakeland.
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.