Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, South Bay is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
South Bay differs from Florida on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Bay. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Bay
Dental care lags in South Bay
37% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 32.5% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in South Bay
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (39.8%), more than twice the Florida rate. Utility shut-off threats (21.7% vs 8.6%) and housing insecurity (31.5% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 41.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Smoking is more common in South Bay
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (22.5%), vs 12.4% across Florida. COPD, which smoking drives, is high too: 8.8%, vs 7.2% across Florida. Habits ↓
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 South Bay’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind South Bay’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Bay is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #593 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 44% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). South Bay’s median household income is $51,417; among the 6,276 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$64K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where South Bay compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of South Bay adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
41.7% of South Bay adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
5.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 South Bay adults…
South Bay runs below FL on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of South Bay residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near South Bay
No hospital or community health center in South Bay 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 South Bay; ≈ 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 South Bay adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, South Bay 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.
South Bay and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bay | D | 36.9% | 17.6% | 22.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Bay adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Bay
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Bay is better than Florida on 3 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside South Bay’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Bay | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.3%28–36.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15–19.6 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.5–22.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.9%31.4–42.9 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.5–19.9 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.3%36.8–44 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.8%30.4–37.4 | 39% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.6%21–26.3 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.9 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.5%4.1–5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.8%7.5–10.2 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32.5%27.4–37.7 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.5%19.1–26.2 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.9%32–42.3 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.3–16.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 48.4%42.8–53.9 | 37.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 26.7%22.3–31.4 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.8%71.4–78.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 37%33.4–40.4 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.2%76.5–81.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.3%71.2–77.5 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 51.9%46.4–57.1 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%68.7–82.8 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.6%12.4–17.1 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 35.9%31.9–39.7 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 39.8%37–42.6 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 31.5%28.7–34.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 21.7%19.5–24 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 20.1%18.4–21.7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 41.7%38.9–44.5 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.3%34.6–44.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.4%16.7–22.3 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.4%17.6–23.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 10.2%8.9–11.7 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.3%10.6–14.2 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.3%6.3–8.5 | 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 South Bay
Is South Bay a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Bay is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #593 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Bay?
CDC estimates 36.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 42.9%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Bay?
Lakeside Medical Center in Belle Glade, 4.9 miles in a straight line from South Bay’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in South Bay have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 26.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 22.3–31.4%), 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 South Bay more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South Bay.
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.