Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Malabar is healthier than 31%
Malabar differs from Florida on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Malabar. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Malabar
Against towns with similar incomes, Malabar’s lead shrinks
Malabar is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, but 31% of the 4,685 towns with similar household incomes ($97K–$161K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Malabar
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (11.8%), vs 9.1% across Florida. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.6%), vs 26.6% across Florida. Conditions ↓
Fewer Malabar adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Florida. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nearly everyone in Malabar is insured
Only 8.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 15.9% across Florida. 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 Malabar’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Malabar’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Malabar is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, #189 of 636 in Florida. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 84% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). Malabar’s median household income is $128,698; among the 4,685 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($97K–$161K), it’s healthier than 31%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Malabar adults…
Malabar runs above FL on 2 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.
7.5% of Malabar adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Keeping up with care
Share of Malabar adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Malabar
1 community health center in Malabar, 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 Malabar; ≈ 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.
24 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Malabar adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Malabar does better than 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.
Malabar and the towns around it
Malabar has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malabar | B+ | 32.4% | 12.8% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Grant-Valkaria | B+ | 32.8% | 13.2% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Palm Bay | C+ | 36.5% | 14% | 14.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Malabar adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Malabar
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Malabar is better than Florida on 10 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Malabar’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Malabar | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.5%13.8–19.5 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%11.8–15.8 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%12.8–16.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.4%26.9–38.1 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%10.9–14.8 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.6%35.5–43.6 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.7%38.7–46.6 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.6%28.3–35.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.4–10.7 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.8%10.6–13.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%6.9–9.1 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.1–9.2 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.8–14.3 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7%9.1–14.5 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.9%17.1–25.2 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.1–17.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%28.9–38.8 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%6.6–10.5 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%77.7–83.6 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%56.8–63.5 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.4%88.8–91.8 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.2–83 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74%70–77.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%72.2–83.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.3%15.5–21.1 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%18.2–24.2 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.5–5.9 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.5%6.6–8.6 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.2%25–33.7 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14%11.8–16.7 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%9.8–13.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7–9.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.7–5 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.6–7.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.8–4 | 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 Malabar
Is Malabar a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Malabar is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #189 of 636 in Florida. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Malabar?
CDC estimates 32.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.9% and 38.1%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Malabar?
Palm Bay Hospital in Palm Bay, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Malabar’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Malabar have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–10.5%), 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 Malabar 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 Malabar.
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.