Photo: j.s. clark/ "Image by jsclark.net." · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Panama City Beach is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns
Panama City Beach differs from Florida on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Panama City Beach. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Panama City Beach
Depression runs high in Panama City Beach
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (20.6%), vs 17.1% across Florida. Conditions ↓
Fewer Panama City Beach adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Florida. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nearly everyone in Panama City Beach is insured
Only 10.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 15.9% across Florida. Checkups ↓
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 Panama City Beach’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Panama City Beach’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Panama City Beach is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #230 of 636 in Florida. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 77% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 51%.
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). Panama City Beach’s median household income is $80,941; among the 10,713 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$101K), it’s healthier than 74%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Panama City Beach adults…
Panama City Beach runs below FL on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.2% of Panama City Beach adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Keeping up with care
Share of Panama City Beach adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near Panama City Beach
No hospital or community health center in Panama City Beach itself. These are the nearest.
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 Panama City Beach; ≈ 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.
33 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Panama City Beach adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Panama City Beach 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.
Panama City Beach and the towns around it
Panama City Beach’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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City Beach | B+ | 31.8% | 11.2% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Lower Grand Lagoon | B+ | 32.1% | 12.1% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Laguna Beach | B+ | 30.7% | 11.7% | 11.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Panama City Beach adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Panama City Beach
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Panama City Beach is better than Florida on 11 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Panama City Beach’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Panama City Beach | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.7%15.6–19.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.5–15.6 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15–18.4 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.8%26.9–36.8 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%33.6–40.5 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%36.7–43.9 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.3%26.4–32.1 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.7–10.9 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%9–10.8 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.5%8.6–12.6 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.1%11.3–14.9 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.8%19.6–26.1 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%14.1–19.4 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4%32.5–42.3 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%9.2–12.1 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%73.8–79.9 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.6%59.3–65.7 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.5–88.6 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.3–79.8 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%63.8–72.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.7%67.6–80.8 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.6%17.9–23.4 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20.3–26.5 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.6%11.3–14 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.2%10–12.6 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30%26.5–33.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.6%11.9–15.3 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.2%11.8–14.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.2–5 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.1–3.8 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Panama City Beach
Is Panama City Beach a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Panama City Beach is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #230 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 74%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Panama City Beach?
CDC estimates 31.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.9% and 36.8%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Panama City Beach?
HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital in Panama City, 12.9 miles in a straight line from Panama City Beach’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Panama City Beach have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–12.1%), 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 Panama City Beach more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Panama City Beach.
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.