Photo: Excel23 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Palm Bay as a whole is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns
Palm Bay trails Florida on 2 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Palm Bay. How CDC estimates town health
What’s behind Palm Bay’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palm Bay is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #419 of 636 in Florida. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 53% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 23%).
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). Palm Bay’s median household income is $72,614; among the 10,704 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$91K), it’s healthier than 41%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
At 148,092 residents, Palm Bay is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Palm Bay adults…
Palm Bay runs above FL on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Palm Bay
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Palm Bay, 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 Palm Bay; ≈ 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.
53 miles of trails across 24 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Palm Bay adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Palm Bay 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.
15.6% of Palm Bay adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Palm Bay and the towns around it
Palm Bay’s Health Grade ranks 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay | C+ | 36.5% | 14% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Grant-Valkaria | B+ | 32.8% | 13.2% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Malabar | B+ | 32.4% | 12.8% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Melbourne | B− | 34.5% | 13.3% | 13.6% | CDC place |
| West Melbourne | A− | 31.3% | 10.9% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Micco | C+ | 33.2% | 18.7% | 13.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Palm Bay adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Palm Bay
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Palm Bay is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Palm Bay’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Palm Bay | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.2%19–23.6 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.5–16.8 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.8–19.5 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.5%30.9–42.2 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.4–15.8 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%35.2–42.3 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39%35.3–42.7 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%25.9–31.7 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%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 | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.1%7.3–8.9 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.6%10.4–15 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%12.7–16.4 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.5%23–30.3 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%12–16.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%31.9–42.1 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.2%12.6–15.9 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%75.4–81.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.8%51.4–58.2 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.9–87.9 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%74.9–80.1 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.7%64.3–72.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%70.2–82.5 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%16.5–22 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.1–28.8 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.2%15.4–19 | 16.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12.6–15.9 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9%7.9–10.2 | 8.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.5%8.6–10.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.6%14–17.4 | 15% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.4%29.8–37.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.2%14.4–18 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.4–16.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.8–8.4 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.6–6.6 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%8–9.7 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.7 | 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 Palm Bay
Is Palm Bay a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palm Bay is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #419 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 41%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Palm Bay?
CDC estimates 36.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.9% and 42.2%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Palm Bay?
Palm Bay Hospital in Palm Bay, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Palm Bay’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Palm Bay have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.6–15.9%), 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 Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay.
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.