Photo: Roastedbeanz1 · CC BY 4.0Within Mississippi, Florence is healthier than 68% of graded towns
Florence differs from Mississippi on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Florence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Florence
Florence looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 68% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 41% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Florence doesn’t win on
16.7% of adults binge drink, vs 13.6% across Mississippi. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Florence
Florence runs below Mississippi on four chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (11.6% vs 15.5%), stroke (3.4% vs 4.5%) and heart disease (5.9% vs 7.5%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Mississippi 17%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Florence adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Mississippi. 1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food, vs 22.4% of adults 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 Mississippi figure falls outside Florence’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Florence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Florence is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns, #33 of 101 in Mississippi. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 59% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 25%).
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). Florence’s median household income is $86,308; among the 10,295 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($65K–$108K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Florence adults…
Florence runs below MS on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Florence residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Mississippi. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.8% of Florence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Care in and near Florence
No hospital or community health center in Florence itself. These are the nearest.
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 Florence; ≈ 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 Florence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Florence adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
4 in 10 Florence 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.
Florence and the towns around it
Florence’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Florence adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Florence
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Florence is better than Mississippi on 10 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Florence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Florence | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17.5–23.4 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.9–15.5 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.7–20.2 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.5%30.8–44.6 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%10–13.4 | 15.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%34.8–42.9 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33.5–41.8 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.5%24.4–30.7 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.3%6.3–8.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.7 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%12.9–18.9 | 18.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%13.6–19 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.5%24.9–34.4 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%13.8–19.9 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.3%32.6–44.1 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%8.3–12.6 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%74.9–81.8 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.3–87.4 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%72.8–78.6 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.8%55.7–65.6 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.4%65.6–80.2 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.7–25.6 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.8%31.9–41.9 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.9%23.3–30.8 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.5%13.9–19.2 | 22.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.5%10.6–14.5 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.9–9.2 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.8%7.2–10.5 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.4%29.9–38.9 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.9%12.9–17.2 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.3%15.2–19.8 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%7.8–10.2 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.4–4.4 | 5.3% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Mississippi figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Florence
Is Florence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Florence is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #33 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Florence?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 44.6%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Florence?
Crossgates River Oaks Hospital in Brandon, 10.3 miles in a straight line from Florence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Florence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.3–12.6%), against 11.5% across Mississippi.
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 Florence more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Florence.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Mississippi 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.