Photo: Clément Bardot · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Tampa as a whole is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns
Tampa differs from Florida on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Tampa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Tampa
Tampa has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Tampa. HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Tampa
1 in 9 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (10.7%), vs 8.6% across Florida. No reliable transportation (11.1% vs 9.1%) is higher too. 19.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Health varies a lot right around Tampa
Grades next door run from Pebble Creek (A) to University (C−). Tampa is a B. Around town ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Tampa
Tampa runs below Florida on four chronic conditions, most of all cancer (6.4% vs 9.1%), heart disease (5.8% vs 7.5%) and arthritis (21% vs 26.6%). A young population is part of it: only 14% of residents are 65 or older (Florida 21%). Conditions ↓
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 Tampa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Tampa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tampa is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns, #290 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 76% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Tampa’s median household income is $75,475; among the 10,836 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$94K), it’s healthier than 68%, about where its income would put it.
At 413,554 residents, Tampa is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Tampa
3 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Tampa, 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 Tampa; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.6% of Tampa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Out of every 100 Tampa adults…
Tampa runs below FL on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Tampa and the towns around it
Tampa’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 11 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | B | 31.9% | 12.5% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Lutz | A | 28.5% | 11.3% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Palm River-Clair Mel | C | 35.2% | 14.4% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Town 'n' Country | B | 32% | 13.4% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| East Lake-Orient Park | C | 36.4% | 14.1% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| Egypt Lake-Leto | C | 34.6% | 15.9% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Lake Magdalene | B+ | 30.2% | 13.1% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| Temple Terrace | B | 31.3% | 12.2% | 12.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
46 miles of trails across 104 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Tampa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Tampa 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Tampa adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Tampa
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Tampa is better than Florida on 5 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Tampa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Tampa | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%18.4–22.5 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.8–14.7 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.7–19.2 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.9%27.3–36.7 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%11.1–13.9 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.5%30.4–36.6 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38%34.6–41.3 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21%18.8–23.3 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.7–10.9 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.9–7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.2–6.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.5 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%12–16.8 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.6%11.1–14.2 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.5%21.4–27.6 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%14.1–19.5 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.5%34.9–44 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.9%14.3–17.6 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%72.8–79.1 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.2%52.1–58.2 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.8%82.1–85.5 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.5%70.7–76 | 78.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63%58.5–67.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.9%72.6–84 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.2%14.8–19.8 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.2–28.8 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20%18.3–21.9 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.3%14.6–18.1 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.5–12 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%10.1–12.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.6%17.9–21.3 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%27.2–33.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.4%12–14.9 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%13.3–16.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.2–7.2 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.9–9.6 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%4–4.6 | 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 Tampa
Is Tampa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tampa is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #290 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 68%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Tampa?
CDC estimates 31.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.3% and 36.7%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Tampa?
St. Josephs Hospital in Tampa, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Tampa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Tampa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.3–17.6%), 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 Tampa 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 Tampa.
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.