Photo: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Mary Esther is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns
Mary Esther beats Florida on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mary Esther. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mary Esther
What’s behind Mary Esther’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mary Esther is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #211 of 636 in Florida. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 84% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 53%.
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). Mary Esther’s median household income is $76,890; among the 10,823 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$96K), it’s healthier than 81%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.8% of Mary Esther adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Out of every 100 Mary Esther adults…
Mary Esther runs below FL on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Mary Esther
No hospital or community health center in Mary Esther itself. These are the nearest.
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 Mary Esther; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Mary Esther adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Mary Esther 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.
Mary Esther and the towns around it
Mary Esther’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Esther | B+ | 29.8% | 11.3% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Fort Walton Beach | B− | 31.7% | 12.5% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Hurlburt Field | A− | 27.9% | 4.5% | 10.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mary Esther adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mary Esther
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mary Esther is better than Florida on 9 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Mary Esther’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mary Esther | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.2%14.7–19.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.6–15.1 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.9–19 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.8%24.9–35.3 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.3%9.8–12.8 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.1%30.6–37.7 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%32.4–39.6 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.5%24.7–30.4 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.8–7.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.8%5.8–7.9 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.8 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.4%8.4–12.7 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%10.5–15.1 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%19.8–27.6 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14.1–19.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%30.8–41.2 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%9.3–13.5 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.8%73.5–79.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.5%60.1–66.8 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85–88.7 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.7–80 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%64.2–73.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%65–79.3 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.6%15.9–21.4 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22%19.1–25.2 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.9%10.5–13.3 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.6%9.3–12 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.7–7.4 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%8.7–11.1 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.1%26.3–34.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.1%11.2–15.2 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.3%11.5–15.1 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.3–8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4–5.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 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 Mary Esther
Is Mary Esther a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mary Esther is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #211 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 81%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mary Esther?
CDC estimates 29.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.9% and 35.3%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mary Esther?
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital in Fort Walton Beach, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Mary Esther’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mary Esther have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–13.5%), 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 Mary Esther 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 Mary Esther.
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.