Photo: StarkeDCD · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Starke is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Starke trails Florida on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Starke. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Starke
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Starke
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.2%), vs 7.2% across Florida. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.3%), vs 3.8% across Florida. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.3%, vs 7.5% across Florida. In all, Starke runs above Florida on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Starke
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19%), vs 12.4% across Florida. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Starke
22.3% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 16.8% across Florida. Utility shut-off threats (11.5% vs 8.6%) and no reliable transportation (11.8% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 22.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Starke’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Starke’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Starke is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #576 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 48% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Starke’s median household income is $52,258; among the 6,547 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Starke adults…
Starke runs above FL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.9% of Starke adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Care in and near Starke
2 community health centers in Starke, 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 Starke; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Starke adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Starke adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Starke 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.
Starke and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starke | D | 36.4% | 16.2% | 19% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Starke adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Starke
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Starke is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Starke’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Starke | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.2%24–30.4 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.9–20 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.9–22.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.4%30.7–42.3 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.2%14.3–18.3 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.3%37.5–45 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%34.7–42.3 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.6–34.8 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.3 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.4 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.4–10.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.8%16.4–23.4 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19%16.4–21.7 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.4%29.7–38.9 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11.2–16 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.8%36.2–47.1 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.6%13.4–18.1 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.9%75.7–81.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.1%46.4–53.6 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82.1–85.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%77.5–82.1 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64%59.2–68.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.2%64.6–78.7 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%17.3–23 | 17.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.6%23.3–30.1 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.3%20.3–24.4 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.5%15.7–19.4 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.8%10.7–12.8 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.9%20.9–25.1 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.7%34.5–42.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.7%18.2–23.3 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%16.3–20.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%8–10 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.4%7.5–9.3 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.1%10.7–13.6 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 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 Starke
Is Starke a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Starke is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #576 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Starke?
CDC estimates 36.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 42.3%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Starke?
Lake Butler Hospital in Lake Butler, 13.9 miles in a straight line from Starke’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Starke have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.4–18.1%), 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 Starke 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 Starke.
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.