Photo: Excel23, Michael Seeley from Melbourne, FL, United States · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Melbourne is healthier than 66%
Melbourne differs from Florida on 4 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Melbourne. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Melbourne
Melbourne is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Melbourne is healthier than 50%. Against the 10,195 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 66%. Health Grade ↓
COPD runs high in Melbourne
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 7.2% across Florida. Conditions ↓
Melbourne has a top-rated hospital
Holmes Regional Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Melbourne’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Melbourne’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Melbourne is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, #366 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 62% 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). Melbourne’s median household income is $66,991; among the 10,195 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 66%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Care in and near Melbourne
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Melbourne, 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 Melbourne; ≈ 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 Melbourne adults…
Melbourne runs above FL on 1 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.
50 miles of trails across 26 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Melbourne adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Melbourne 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.
14.3% of Melbourne adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Melbourne and the towns around it
Melbourne’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | B− | 34.5% | 13.3% | 13.6% | CDC place |
| West Melbourne | A− | 31.3% | 10.9% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Palm Bay | C+ | 36.5% | 14% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Indian Harbour Beach | A− | 31.5% | 12.3% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Melbourne Village | — | — | — | — | |
| Palm Shores | A | 30.9% | 10.4% | 9.9% | CDC place |
| Merritt Island | B+ | 32.2% | 12.7% | 11.6% | CDC place |
Melbourne Village: 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 Melbourne adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Melbourne
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Melbourne is better than Florida on 3 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Melbourne’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Melbourne | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.1%17.9–22.4 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13.1–16.3 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.3–19 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.5%29.1–40 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.8–15 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38%34.6–41.5 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%35.7–43 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.3%26.5–32.1 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–11 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%9–10.8 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.5%12–17.2 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6%11.9–15.4 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%21.7–28.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.2–17.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.1%30.2–40.2 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.4%11–14 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.6%75.5–81.5 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%52.9–59.5 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.7–87.7 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75.4–80.3 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.1%64.8–73.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%69.3–81.8 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.4%16.7–22.3 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20.2–26.5 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%13.5–16.6 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.5–13.3 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 8.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%7.8–9.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.3%12.8–15.9 | 15% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%29.5–36.6 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.9%14.2–17.7 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.9–16 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.4–9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.4–6.3 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.9–9.6 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 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 Melbourne
Is Melbourne a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Melbourne is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #366 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 Melbourne?
CDC estimates 34.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 40%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Melbourne?
Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Melbourne’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Melbourne have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–14%), 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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne.
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.