Hull-Hawkins House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Live Oak is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns
Live Oak trails Florida on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Live Oak. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Live Oak
Making ends meet is harder in Live Oak
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.4%), vs 16.8% across Florida. Utility shut-off threats (11.1% vs 8.6%) and housing insecurity (17.6% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 20.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Live Oak
50.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 17.5% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 22 miles from Live Oak
The closest emergency room is HCA Florida Lake City Hospital in Lake City, 21.6 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Trenton Medical Center is closer (0.9 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Live Oak is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Live Oak is healthier than 27%. Against the 8,750 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$74K), it’s healthier than 42%. 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 Live Oak’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Live Oak’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Live Oak is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns, #488 of 636 in Florida. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 49% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Live Oak’s median household income is $59,375; among the 8,750 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$74K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.6% of Live Oak adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Keeping up with care
Share of Live Oak adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Live Oak
1 community health center in Live Oak, 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 Live Oak; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Live Oak adults…
Live Oak runs above FL on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
1.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Live Oak adults are doing
About the same as Florida on each measure.
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.
Live Oak and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | C | 38.3% | 14.4% | 14.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Live Oak adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Live Oak
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Live Oak is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Live Oak’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Live Oak | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.8%20.2–25.7 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.7–17.4 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.7–19.6 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.3%32.6–44 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.7–16.3 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.4%35.8–42.9 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%34.5–42 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28%25.2–30.8 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7–8.6 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%4–4.8 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.5%14.6–20.7 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%13–17.1 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.9%26.8–35.2 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.6–16.4 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.9%38.2–49.8 | 37.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.2%14.1–18.3 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%75.1–81.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.4%46.9–54 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83.6–86.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%75.1–79.9 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.9%61.2–70.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%67.1–80.8 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.6%15.1–20.3 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.8%24.3–31.3 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.4%19.4–23.5 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.6%15.8–19.5 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.1%9.8–12.5 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.4%10.4–12.5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.6%18.7–22.7 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.6%31.6–39.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%15.1–19.3 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%13.9–17.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.7–8.4 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.2–7.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.5–10.7 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 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 Live Oak
Is Live Oak a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Live Oak is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #488 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Live Oak?
CDC estimates 38.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 44%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Live Oak?
HCA Florida Lake City Hospital in Lake City, 21.6 miles in a straight line from Live Oak’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Live Oak have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–18.3%), 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 Live Oak 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 Live Oak.
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.