Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Marathon is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns
Marathon differs from Florida on 6 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Marathon. How CDC estimates town health
What’s behind Marathon’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Marathon is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #266 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 93% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 32%).
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). Marathon’s median household income is $89,355; among the 10,013 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$112K), it’s healthier than 57%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Marathon adults…
Marathon runs above FL on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Marathon
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Marathon, 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 Marathon; ≈ 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.
3.7 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Marathon adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Marathon 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.4% of Marathon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Marathon and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | B | 26.4% | 13.3% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Key Colony Beach | — | — | — | — |
Key Colony Beach: 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 Marathon adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Marathon
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Marathon is better than Florida on 5 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Marathon’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Marathon | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.5%17.1–22.3 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13–16.7 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.1–16.8 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.4%20.8–32.5 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.6–15.2 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.5%33.5–41.6 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.9%36.6–45.2 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.7%24.7–31 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.1%8–10.3 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.3–11.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.5–8.5 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%9.1–13.3 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%10.9–15.1 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.8%21–29 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%13.5–19.5 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.3%28.7–39.9 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.3%13.2–17.7 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.6%75.2–81.9 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.4%57–63.8 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%87.2–89.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%76.7–82.5 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66%61.2–70.6 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%65.1–79.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.5%13.9–19.4 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.1%20.2–26.3 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.4%12.9–15.9 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%7.1–8.6 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.4%11.1–13.9 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.4%26.6–34.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%13.1–17.3 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.9%11.4–14.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5–6.1 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.6–8.4 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 4.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Marathon
Is Marathon a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Marathon is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #266 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Marathon?
CDC estimates 26.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.8% and 32.5%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Marathon?
Fishermen's Community Hospital in Marathon, 4.6 miles in a straight line from Marathon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Marathon have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.2–17.7%), 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 Marathon 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 Marathon.
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.