Alfred J. Comeau House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, West Palm Beach as a whole is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns
West Palm Beach differs from Florida on 7 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Palm Beach. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Palm Beach
What’s behind West Palm Beach’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Palm Beach is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, #333 of 636 in Florida. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 86% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 27%).
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). West Palm Beach’s median household income is $73,446; among the 10,778 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 63%, about where its income would put it.
At 127,189 residents, West Palm Beach is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
West Palm Beach and the towns around it
West Palm Beach’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach | B− | 29.1% | 13.7% | 13% | CDC place |
| Riviera Beach | C | 32.8% | 16% | 15.4% | CDC place |
| Palm Beach Gardens | A | 22.8% | 11.7% | 8.8% | CDC place |
| Mangonia Park | D | 38.3% | 16.4% | 20% | CDC place |
| Palm Beach | A | 20.4% | 13.5% | 6.4% | CDC place |
| Lake Clarke Shores | A− | 25.1% | 11.5% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Lake Worth Beach | C− | 31.9% | 14.6% | 17.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 West Palm Beach adults…
West Palm Beach runs below FL on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near West Palm Beach
2 hospitals and 4 community health centers in West Palm Beach, 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 West Palm Beach; ≈ 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.
59 miles of trails across 42 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of West Palm Beach adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How West Palm Beach 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.9% of West Palm Beach adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Palm Beach adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Palm Beach
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Palm Beach is better than Florida on 2 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside West Palm Beach’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Palm Beach | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%19.3–23.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.4–15.4 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.7–18.3 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.1%24.4–34.2 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.7%12.1–15.3 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35%31.8–38.3 | 36.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%32–38.8 | 39% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.1%23.5–28.7 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–11.1 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–8.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 7.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.7–17 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%11.5–14.7 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.3%23.9–30.9 | 26.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%11.1–15.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.3%33.2–43.5 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.9%15.1–18.9 | 15.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%75.4–81.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.8%53.2–60 | 57.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83.7–86.9 | 87% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.8–80.8 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.1%61.3–70.5 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%70.5–83.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.1%13.8–18.7 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.2–28.5 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.4%17.7–21.1 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.3%14.7–18 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.8–11.7 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.9%17.2–20.5 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.9%28.5–35.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.3%13.7–17 | 15.1% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%13.3–16.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.2–7.3 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%8.2–9.9 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.3–5 | 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 West Palm Beach
Is West Palm Beach a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Palm Beach is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #333 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 63%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Palm Beach?
CDC estimates 29.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.4% and 34.2%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Palm Beach?
St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, 4.0 miles in a straight line from West Palm Beach’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Palm Beach have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.1–18.9%), 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 West Palm Beach more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Palm Beach.
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.