Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Okeechobee is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Okeechobee trails Florida on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Okeechobee. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Okeechobee
Dental care lags in Okeechobee
49.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 23.2% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
COPD, obesity and stroke run high in Okeechobee
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), vs 7.2% across Florida. 43% of adults have obesity, vs 31.9% across Florida. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.8% across Florida. In all, Okeechobee runs above Florida on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Okeechobee is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Okeechobee is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, physical distress, obesity and diabetes. 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 Okeechobee’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Okeechobee’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Okeechobee is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #580 of 636 in Florida. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 26% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Okeechobee’s median household income is $57,044; among the 8,044 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Okeechobee adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Out of every 100 Okeechobee adults…
Okeechobee runs above FL on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Okeechobee
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Okeechobee, 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 Okeechobee; ≈ 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.
1 mile of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Okeechobee adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Okeechobee 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.
21.5% of Okeechobee adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Okeechobee and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okeechobee | D | 43% | 15.2% | 17.3% | CDC place |
| Cypress Quarters | D− | 51.9% | 22.5% | 22.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Okeechobee adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Okeechobee
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Okeechobee is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Okeechobee’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Okeechobee | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.7%23.8–29.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.1–20.2 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%17–21.1 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43%36.3–49.8 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.2%13.4–17.2 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.5%36.6–44.4 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%36.3–44.4 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.5%26.5–32.6 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9.1–11.5 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.7–10.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.2%19.8–26.9 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.3%15.1–19.7 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.5%27.1–36 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.3–17.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%33.8–45.6 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 19.4%17.1–22 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%74.5–81.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.9%46.1–53.4 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%82.2–85.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76.3–81.1 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.8%55.6–65.8 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.8%66–80.6 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.9%17–23.1 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%22–28.1 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.9%19.1–22.7 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.1%14.5–17.8 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%10.2–12.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.5%19.7–23.4 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38%33.9–42.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%17.6–22 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.6–19.4 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.1%10–12.3 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 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 Okeechobee
Is Okeechobee a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Okeechobee is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #580 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Okeechobee?
CDC estimates 43% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.3% and 49.8%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Okeechobee have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 19.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 17.1–22%), 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 Okeechobee more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Okeechobee.
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.