Photo: Averette · CC BY 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Miami is healthier than 64%
Miami differs from Florida on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Miami. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Miami
Making ends meet is harder in Miami
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.3%), vs 16.8% across Florida. No reliable transportation (13% vs 9.1%) and housing insecurity (19.8% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 24.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Miami is behind on routine checkups
It trails Florida on four of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (74.7% vs 78.4%), dentist visits (52% vs 57.4%), cholesterol checks (84.8% vs 87%) and colon screening (57.4% vs 65.7%). Checkups ↓
1 in 4 working-age adults in Miami has no health insurance
27.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 15.9% across Florida. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Miami
Grades next door run from Coral Gables (A) to Brownsville (D). Miami is a C+. Around town ↓
Miami is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Miami is healthier than 43%. Against the 9,508 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 64%. 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 Miami’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B.
What’s behind Miami’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Miami is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns, #391 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 84% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Miami’s median household income is $62,462; among the 9,508 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Miami compares well: arthritis, 20% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%); ever told they have depression, 14.1% (U.S. 20.6%).
At 489,812 residents, Miami is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.4% of Miami adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Keeping up with care
Share of Miami adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Miami and the towns around it
Miami’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | C+ | 29.9% | 15.5% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Coral Gables | A | 23.6% | 10.5% | 6.6% | CDC place |
| El Portal | B | 29% | 13.9% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| West Little River | C | 33.5% | 18.6% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Miami Beach | B+ | 26.7% | 12.7% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Gladeview | D | 37.6% | 19.1% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| Fisher Island | A− | 22.6% | 14.1% | 8.6% | CDC place |
| Brownsville | D | 37.7% | 20.8% | 19.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Miami adults…
Miami runs below FL on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Miami
3 hospitals and 6 community health centers in Miami, 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 Miami; ≈ 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.
26 miles of trails across 79 parks and preserves
How Miami adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Miami 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Miami adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Miami
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Miami is better than Florida on 6 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Miami’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Miami | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.8%22.4–27.1 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.6–16.8 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.5–16.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.9%25.3–34.7 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.5%13.8–17.3 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.8%29.7–36 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.8%31.4–38.2 | 39% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20%17.8–22.4 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.6 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.5–4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.4%13.9–19.2 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%10.8–13.9 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 33.7%30.1–37.3 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.9–17.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38%33.7–42.6 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 27.2%24.7–29.6 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.7%71.3–77.7 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52%48.9–55.1 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%83.1–86.4 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.7%72.9–78.3 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.4%52.9–62 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.5%66.6–79.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.1%12–16.3 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.9%23.7–30.4 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.3%24.2–28.5 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.8%17.9–21.8 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.8–13.6 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13%11.9–14.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.4%22.5–26.5 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.8%27.6–34.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.6–18 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.6–16.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.4%8.7–10.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8–9.7 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5.1–5.9 | 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 Miami
Is Miami a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Miami is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #391 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 Miami?
CDC estimates 29.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.3% and 34.7%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Miami?
Jackson Health System in Miami, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Miami’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Miami have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 27.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 24.7–29.6%), 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 Miami more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Miami.
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.