Sapp House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Panama City is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Panama City trails Florida on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Panama City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Panama City
Making ends meet is harder in Panama City
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.2%), vs 16.8% across Florida. Utility shut-off threats (11.5% vs 8.6%) and no reliable transportation (11.5% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 22.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Depression is more common in Panama City
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (20.9%), vs 17.1% across Florida. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.9%, vs 15.8% across Florida. Mind & connection ↓
In Panama City, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 15.4% of working-age adults are uninsured (Florida 15.9%), yet 24.4% say their health is fair or poor, vs 20.3% across the state. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Panama City
Grades next door run from Pretty Bayou (A) to Springfield (C−). Panama City is a C−. Around town ↓
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’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Panama City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Panama City is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns, #527 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 50% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 15%).
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’s median household income is $62,265; among the 9,474 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.6% of Panama City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
How Panama City adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Panama City 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Panama City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Panama City and the towns around it
Panama City’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 | C− | 36.2% | 14.3% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Pretty Bayou | A | 29.2% | 10.8% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Cedar Grove | C− | 37.1% | 12.4% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Lynn Haven | B+ | 31.8% | 10.6% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Springfield | C− | 35.6% | 12.9% | 17.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Panama City adults…
Panama City runs above FL on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Panama City
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Panama City, 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 Panama City; ≈ 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.
27 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Panama City adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Panama City
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 is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Panama City’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 | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.4%21.9–26.9 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15–18.5 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%17–20.9 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%31–41.5 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.7–16.1 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.1%37.5–44.5 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%36.6–43.8 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27.7–33.5 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–11.7 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.7–10.6 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–4.9 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.7%14–19.6 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%15.1–19.2 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.8%26.1–33.5 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.9–17.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1%36.1–46 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.4%13.7–17.3 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.7–79.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.4%50.1–56.6 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%82.5–85.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%75–79.9 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.2%59.5–68.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.5%64–78 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%18.1–23.8 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.8%22.5–29.2 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.2%19.3–23.1 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.9%15.2–18.7 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.5%10.3–12.9 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.5%10.5–12.6 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.6%20.7–24.6 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%32.7–40 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.2%16.3–20.1 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%15.1–18.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.3–9.1 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.9–8.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.8%9.8–11.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5–5.9 | 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 Panama City
Is Panama City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Panama City is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #527 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. 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?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31% and 41.5%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Panama City?
HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital in Panama City, 8.9 miles in a straight line from Panama City’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 have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.7–17.3%), 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 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 Panama City.
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.