West Ocala Historic District · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY 2.5Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ocala is healthier than 57%
Ocala trails Florida on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ocala. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ocala
Dental care lags in Ocala
52.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 16.9% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Ocala
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.5%), vs 12.4% across Florida. Habits ↓
COPD runs high in Ocala
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.5%), vs 7.2% across Florida. Conditions ↓
Ocala is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ocala is healthier than 33%. Against the 7,846 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 57%. 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 Ocala’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Ocala’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ocala is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns, #453 of 636 in Florida. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 48% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 27%).
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). Ocala’s median household income is $56,376; among the 7,846 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 57%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ocala adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 29 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Ocala adults…
Ocala runs above FL on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ocala
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Ocala, 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 Ocala; ≈ 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).
How Ocala adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Ocala runs above 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21% of Ocala adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Ocala and the towns around it
Ocala’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala | C | 37.1% | 13.4% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| Silver Springs | C+ | 37.3% | 13.1% | 15.4% | CDC place |
| Liberty Triangle | B− | 32.8% | 16% | 11.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ocala adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ocala
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ocala is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Ocala’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ocala | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%20.2–24.9 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.9–17.2 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.3–20.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%31.8–42.7 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.8–15 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%33.3–40.1 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%33.8–40.9 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.7–30.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.4 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8.1–9.7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%7–8.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.5%7.7–9.4 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.9%14.2–19.8 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5%13.6–17.5 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.9%22.6–29.6 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.5–17.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.7%35.7–45.9 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.8%14.1–17.7 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.9–82 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.8%49.4–56.1 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.4–86.7 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.5–80.5 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.3%61.9–70.5 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%66.7–79.8 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.8%17.1–22.8 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%21.9–28.3 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.1%18.3–22 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16%14.3–17.7 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.5%9.4–11.8 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%10–11.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21%19.2–22.8 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.8%30.4–37.5 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.8%15.1–18.8 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%14.2–17.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.9–8.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.4–7.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.8–10.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 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 Ocala
Is Ocala a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ocala is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #453 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 Ocala?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 42.7%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ocala?
Marion Communtiy Hospital in Ocala, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Ocala’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ocala have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–17.7%), 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 Ocala more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ocala.
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.