Photo: Mjrmtg · CC BY-SA 3.0Lakeland’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Lakeland trails Georgia on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lakeland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lakeland
Dental care lags in Lakeland
36.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.2% across Georgia. Among those 65 and older, 29% have lost all their teeth (Georgia 14.5%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Lakeland
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.7%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. Heart disease is also above the state: 9%, vs 6.1% across Georgia. In all, Lakeland runs above Georgia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Lakeland is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lakeland is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Lakeland adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (42.2%, vs 29.6% across Georgia). The biggest difference is vision loss: 10.3% vs 5.6%. Disability ↓
Lakeland is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Lakeland is healthier than 1%. Against the 692 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 21%. Health Grade ↓
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 Georgia figure falls outside Lakeland’s likely range.
What’s behind Lakeland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakeland is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #250 of 261 in Georgia. All seven of Lakeland’s estimates fall in the lowest 4% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 23% of adults, against 13.6% across Georgia and 11.8% nationally.
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). Lakeland’s median household income is $31,147; among the 692 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lakeland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Out of every 100 Lakeland adults…
Lakeland runs above GA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lakeland adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Care in and near Lakeland
1 hospital in Lakeland, 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 Lakeland; ≈ 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 Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Lakeland adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lakeland runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Lakeland adults feel lonely. 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.
32.9% of Lakeland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Lakeland and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | D− | 44.9% | 19.3% | 23% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Lakeland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lakeland is better than Georgia on 0 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Lakeland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lakeland | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.2%28.2–36.4 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%16.8–21.6 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.2%18.7–23.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.9%36.2–54.1 | 35.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.3%16.9–21.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.5%42.1–51 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%34.9–43.8 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.1%26.7–33.6 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.2–7.7 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%8.1–10 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.7%10.2–13.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 29%24.5–33.7 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23%19.6–26.6 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.2%33.3–45.1 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.4–15.6 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.5%36.2–50.9 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.5%14.3–20.9 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%74.8–81.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 36.8%33.2–40.4 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.1%79.8–84.5 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%76.1–81.1 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.2%52.6–63.5 | 64.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.4%61.1–78 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.7%18.3–25.3 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.5%33.8–45.6 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.2–31.6 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 32.6%28.2–37.4 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.8%20.6–27.3 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.1%15.7–20.7 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.9%14.7–19.3 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.9%28.5–37.5 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.2%36.9–47.7 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.8%19.9–25.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.9%18.3–23.6 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.3%9.2–11.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15%13.1–16.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8%7–9 | 4.2% | 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 Georgia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Lakeland
Is Lakeland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakeland is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #250 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lakeland?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.2% and 54.1%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lakeland?
SGMC Health Lanier in Lakeland, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Lakeland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Lakeland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.3–20.9%), against 13.1% across Georgia.
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 Lakeland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lakeland.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Georgia 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.