Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ridgecrest is healthier than 49%
Ridgecrest differs from Florida on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ridgecrest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ridgecrest
Making ends meet is harder in Ridgecrest
1 in 6 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (16%), about twice the Florida rate. Food insecurity (27.3% vs 16.8%) and housing insecurity (24.4% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 27.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Ridgecrest adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (32.8%), vs 24.7% across Florida. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.5%, vs 15.8% across Florida. Mind & connection ↓
Obesity and asthma run high in Ridgecrest
2 in 5 adults have obesity (40.4%), vs 31.9% across Florida. 1 in 9 adults have asthma (11.5%), vs 9.4% across Florida. Conditions ↓
Ridgecrest is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ridgecrest is healthier than 21%. Against the 5,938 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 49%. 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 Ridgecrest’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Ridgecrest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgecrest is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #522 of 636 in Florida. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 47% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Ridgecrest’s median household income is $50,428; among the 5,938 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 49%, about where its income would put it.
Where Ridgecrest compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.7% of Ridgecrest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
How Ridgecrest adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Ridgecrest 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.
Out of every 100 Ridgecrest adults…
Ridgecrest runs below FL on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ridgecrest
1 community health center in Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest; ≈ 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.
2.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Ridgecrest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Ridgecrest and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgecrest | C− | 40.4% | 15.3% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Largo | B− | 32.2% | 13.8% | 13.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ridgecrest adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ridgecrest
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ridgecrest is better than Florida on 3 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Ridgecrest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ridgecrest | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%20.8–26.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.8–16.4 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.2–21.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.4%34–46.7 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.3%13.3–17.3 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%34.8–42.4 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.1%31.3–38.8 | 39% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.5%22.6–28.4 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.1–13 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.6–15.5 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%12.8–17.5 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.4%25–33.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.5–16.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.7%40.5–51 | 37.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.1%12.9–17.6 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.9–82.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.3%47.8–54.8 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.5–87.2 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.7–79.2 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.8%64.5–72.9 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%71.9–83.6 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.8%15.8–21.7 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.8%29–36.7 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.3%25–29.8 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.4%22.1–26.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16%14.3–17.8 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.1%12.9–15.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.7%25.4–30.2 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.9%29.6–37.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%14.8–19.1 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%14.5–18.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%9–11.4 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 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 Ridgecrest
Is Ridgecrest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgecrest is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #522 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 Ridgecrest?
CDC estimates 40.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 34% and 46.7%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ridgecrest?
HCA Florida Largo Hospital in Largo, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Ridgecrest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ridgecrest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.9–17.6%), 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 Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest.
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.