Barberville Central High School · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY 2.5On CDC estimates, Pierson is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns
Pierson trails Florida on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pierson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pierson
Pierson is behind on routine checkups
It trails Florida on three of five routine checkups and screenings: dentist visits (51.1% vs 57.4%), cholesterol checks (83.9% vs 87%) and colon screening (60.9% vs 65.7%). Checkups ↓
1 in 4 working-age adults in Pierson has no health insurance
23.9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 15.9% across Florida. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Pierson
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.5%), vs 12.4% across Florida. Habits ↓
Pierson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pierson is healthier than 26%. Against the 7,915 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 46%. 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 Pierson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Pierson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pierson is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 60% of U.S. towns); physical distress 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). Pierson’s median household income is $56,667; among the 7,915 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 46%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Pierson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
2.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Pierson adults…
Pierson runs above FL on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pierson
1 community health center in Pierson, 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 Pierson; ≈ 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).
How Pierson 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.
18% of Pierson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Pierson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierson | C | 34.8% | 14.4% | 15.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pierson adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pierson
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pierson is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Pierson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pierson | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.5%22.2–29 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.8–19 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.8–19.9 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%29.6–40.4 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.5–16.3 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37%33.5–40.6 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%35.9–43.1 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.2%23.5–29 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.7–11 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.8–9.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.2–9 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.6%7.4–9.8 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.2%12.6–18 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5%13.2–17.9 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.2%25.9–34.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.6–17.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.5%30.6–40.6 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 23.9%20.1–27.9 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.2%73–79.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.1%47.5–54.6 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%81.9–86 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%75.1–80.4 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.9%56.1–65.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.8%63.4–77.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.8%16.3–21.7 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.9%23.6–30.6 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.4%18.4–22.5 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.9%14.2–17.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 8.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.8–11.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18%16.1–20 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%32.5–41.2 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.3%15–19.6 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%14.7–19 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.4–10.9 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.4–5.6 | 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 Pierson
Is Pierson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pierson is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 46%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pierson?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.6% and 40.4%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pierson?
Adventhealth Deland in Deland, 16.1 miles in a straight line from Pierson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pierson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 23.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 20.1–27.9%), 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 Pierson 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 Pierson.
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.