Photo: Connor J. Williams · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Winter Haven is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Winter Haven trails Florida on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Winter Haven. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Winter Haven
COPD, obesity and stroke run high in Winter Haven
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 7.2% across Florida. 2 in 5 adults have obesity (41.5%), vs 31.9% across Florida. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.8% across Florida. In all, Winter Haven runs above Florida on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Winter Haven
51.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.4% across Florida. Among those 65 and older, 17.2% have lost all their teeth (Florida 12.7%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Winter Haven
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.9%), vs 16.8% across Florida. Utility shut-off threats (11% vs 8.6%) and no reliable transportation (11.2% vs 9.1%) are higher too. 21.4% 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 Winter Haven’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Winter Haven’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Winter Haven is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #551 of 636 in Florida. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 42% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Winter Haven’s median household income is $59,648; among the 8,815 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Winter Haven adults…
Winter Haven runs above FL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Winter Haven 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.
21.4% of Winter Haven adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Care in and near Winter Haven
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Winter Haven, 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 Winter Haven; ≈ 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.
17 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How Winter Haven adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Winter Haven 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.
Winter Haven and the towns around it
Winter Haven’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Haven | C− | 41.5% | 15.5% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Cypress Gardens | B− | 36.4% | 12% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Inwood | D− | 46.5% | 16.5% | 21% | CDC place |
| Lake Alfred | C+ | 39.4% | 13.1% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Alturas | D | 41.4% | 14.7% | 19.4% | CDC place |
| Lake Wales | D | 42.6% | 17.2% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Dundee | D− | 46.5% | 18.7% | 21.9% | CDC place |
| Auburndale | C− | 40.5% | 13.5% | 16.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Winter Haven adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Winter Haven
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Winter Haven is better than Florida on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Winter Haven’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Winter Haven | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%23.2–28.1 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.6–19 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.3–19.9 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.5%36.3–46.8 | 31.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.5%13.8–17.3 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40%36.7–43.3 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.8%38.3–45.3 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27.9–33.4 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.5–11.8 | 9.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.5–10.1 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.9–9.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%8.6–10.3 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.5–5.1 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14.5–20.2 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%13.8–17.5 | 12.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31%27.5–34.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11.3–15.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.4%38.7–48.4 | 37.3% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.5%16.6–20.5 | 15.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%76.3–82 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.7%48.5–55.1 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.4–87.5 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.4%78–82.6 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.3%58.9–67.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.4%66.5–79.7 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19%16.6–21.7 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.4%23.2–29.7 | 24.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.9%19–22.8 | 16.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.6%14.9–18.3 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11%9.8–12.3 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.2%10.2–12.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.4%19.5–23.4 | 15% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8%35.3–42.4 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.5%17.6–21.5 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%14.8–17.9 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.9–9.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.8%7.2–8.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%9.5–11.4 | 8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5.1–5.9 | 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 Winter Haven
Is Winter Haven a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Winter Haven is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #551 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 Winter Haven?
CDC estimates 41.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.3% and 46.8%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Winter Haven?
Winter Haven Hospital in Winter Haven, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Winter Haven’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Winter Haven have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 16.6–20.5%), 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 Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven.
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.