Palmetto Armory · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Palmetto is healthier than 66%
Palmetto differs from Florida on 8 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Palmetto. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Palmetto
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in Palmetto
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.5%), vs 9.1% across Florida. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 7.5% across Florida. COPD is also above the state: 8.9%, vs 7.2% across Florida. In all, Palmetto runs above Florida on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and cancer, heart disease and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Palmetto, and more people treating it
40.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Florida 36.6%), but 81.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Palmetto is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Palmetto is healthier than 45%. Against the 9,530 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 66%. 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 Palmetto’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Palmetto’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palmetto is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns, #382 of 636 in Florida. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 75% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Palmetto’s median household income is $62,621; among the 9,530 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 66%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Palmetto compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Palmetto adults…
Palmetto runs above FL on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Palmetto is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Palmetto as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Palmetto adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Palmetto
1 community health center in Palmetto, 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 Palmetto; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How Palmetto 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.
16.5% of Palmetto adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Palmetto and the towns around it
Palmetto’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Palmetto adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Palmetto
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Palmetto is better than Florida on 1 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Palmetto’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Palmetto | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.1%19.5–24.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.7–17.3 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.8–17.3 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%28.4–39.2 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.2%13.4–17.1 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.6%37–44.2 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.1%39.4–46.8 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27.6–33.5 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.5%10.5–12.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.4–10.2 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.9–10 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–5 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.4%11.9–16.9 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%11.2–15.1 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.7%23.9–31.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11.3–15.9 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.3%33.1–43.2 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.8%14.6–18.9 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77.6–83.2 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.4%51.9–58.5 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%87–89.7 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.5%79.1–83.7 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.2%64.8–73.1 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.2%66–79.2 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.3%14.8–20 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.7%20.5–26.8 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.2%15.5–18.9 | 16.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13%11.6–14.4 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 8.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%8.3–10 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.5%14.9–18.2 | 15% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%32.3–40.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%15.9–20.2 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.5–15.9 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.5–10.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 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 Palmetto
Is Palmetto a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palmetto is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #382 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 Palmetto?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.4% and 39.2%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Palmetto?
Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Palmetto’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Palmetto have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.6–18.9%), 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 Palmetto 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 Palmetto.
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.