Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Lehigh Acres as a whole is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns
Lehigh Acres differs from Florida on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lehigh Acres. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lehigh Acres
Making ends meet is harder in Lehigh Acres
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.3%), vs 16.8% across Florida. Housing insecurity (20.7% vs 13.9%) and utility shut-off threats (12.7% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 23.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Every town around Lehigh Acres scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of Lehigh Acres’ C−, from Fort Myers (C+) to Buckingham (B). Around town ↓
Dental care lags in Lehigh Acres
49.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 17.7% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). 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 Lehigh Acres’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Lehigh Acres’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lehigh Acres is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns, #508 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 54% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). Lehigh Acres’ median household income is $66,890; among the 10,182 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Lehigh Acres compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 132,353 residents, Lehigh Acres is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.8% of Lehigh Acres adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Lehigh Acres and the towns around it
Lehigh Acres’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Acres | C− | 35.7% | 14.7% | 15.7% | CDC place |
| Buckingham | B | 30.6% | 12.6% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Alva | B | 30.3% | 13.9% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Fort Myers | C+ | 33% | 14.8% | 14.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lehigh Acres adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Out of every 100 Lehigh Acres adults…
Lehigh Acres runs below FL on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Lehigh Acres residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Lehigh Acres
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lehigh Acres, 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 Lehigh Acres; ≈ 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.
46 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Lehigh Acres adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lehigh Acres 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lehigh Acres adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lehigh Acres
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lehigh Acres is better than Florida on 4 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Lehigh Acres’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lehigh Acres | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.9%22.6–27.6 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.3–17.5 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.6–20.4 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%30.8–41 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.7%13.1–16.4 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.1%32.1–38.3 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.5%32.4–38.9 | 39% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.9%21.7–26.3 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–11.1 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.7%14.9–20.9 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.7%13.9–17.7 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.2%28.6–36.2 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.8–18 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6%34.7–44.7 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 24.3%22–26.7 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76%72.7–79.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.8%46.5–53.2 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.1%81.3–84.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.7%71–76.4 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58%53.4–62.5 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%67.1–80.2 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.8%15.4–20.5 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28%24.5–31.6 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.3%23–27.5 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.7%18.5–22.8 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.7%11.3–14.1 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.1%12–14.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.8%21.7–26 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.3%31–37.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%14.5–17.8 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.8–19.2 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8%7.5–8.7 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.2–11.1 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.8–5.6 | 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 Lehigh Acres
Is Lehigh Acres a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lehigh Acres is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #508 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 26%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lehigh Acres?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 41%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lehigh Acres?
HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital in Lehigh Acres, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Lehigh Acres’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lehigh Acres have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 24.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 22–26.7%), 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 Lehigh Acres 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 Lehigh Acres.
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.