Photo: Public domain · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, St. George Island is healthier than 26%
St. George Island differs from Florida on 19 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for St. George Island. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in St. George Island
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in St. George Island
1 in 6 adults have had cancer (16.2%), vs 9.1% across Florida. 37.4% of adults have arthritis, vs 26.6% across Florida. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.9%, vs 7.5% across Florida. In all, St. George Island runs above Florida on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 40% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, St. George Island’s lead shrinks
St. George Island is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, but 26% of the 3,742 towns with similar household incomes ($103K–$172K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in St. George Island, and more people treating it
47% of adults have high blood pressure (Florida 36.6%), but 85.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
St. George Island keeps up with checkups
It beats Florida on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (85.5% vs 78.4%) and dentist visits (65.9% vs 57.4%). 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 St. George Island’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind St. George Island’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, St. George Island is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 98% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). St. George Island’s median household income is $137,899; among the 3,742 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($103K–$172K), it’s healthier than 26%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 St. George Island adults…
St. George Island runs above FL on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
St. George Island is an older town: 40% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across Florida. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in St. George Island as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of St. George Island adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
Care in and near St. George Island
No hospital or community health center in St. George Island 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 St. George Island; ≈ 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.
11 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How St. George Island adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, St. George Island does better than 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6% of St. George Island adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
St. George Island and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George Island | B+ | 28% | 14.8% | 10% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of St. George Island adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for St. George Island
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, St. George Island is better than Florida on 14 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside St. George Island’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | St. George Island | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.2%12.7–20.6 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%11.8–17.3 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%9.9–13.9 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28%22.2–34.8 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.8%12.3–17.7 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 47%42.1–52 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 47.1%42.2–52.1 | 39% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 37.4%33.1–42.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.1%8–10.4 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 16.2%14.4–18 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.9%8.3–11.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%6.7–11.4 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.7–5.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.6%9.5–14 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%7.2–13.5 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.5%16.6–27.4 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.6–14.4 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.5%23.6–33.7 | 37.3% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%4.4–9.1 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 85.5%82.7–88.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.9%62.5–69.3 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 94.2%93–95.2 | 87% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 85.4%82.4–88.1 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 77.7%73.7–81.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.8%61.6–77 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.2%13.6–19.2 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 16.2%13.9–18.8 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.1%4.5–5.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6%5.3–6.8 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.1%24–35.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.5%12.1–19.5 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.4%7.6–11.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.4–11.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.5–5.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5–8 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%2.8–4.5 | 4.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 St. George Island
Is St. George Island a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, St. George Island is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in St. George Island?
CDC estimates 28% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.2% and 34.8%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to St. George Island?
George E Weems Memorial Hospital in Apalachicola, 7.9 miles in a straight line from St. George Island’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in St. George Island have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.4–9.1%), 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 St. George Island 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 St. George Island.
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.