Erie Canal · Public domainWithin New York, Florida is healthier than 22% of graded towns
Florida trails New York on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 12010, 12137, 12053. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Florida
Obesity, COPD and arthritis run high in Florida
2 in 5 adults have obesity (38.2%), vs 28.8% across New York. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.9%), vs 6% across New York. Arthritis is also above the state: 29.3%, vs 24% across New York. In all, Florida runs above New York on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Florida trails towns with similar incomes
Florida is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, and only 28% of the 9,577 towns with similar household incomes ($70K–$116K), so income alone doesn’t explain its grade. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in Florida
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.4%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
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 New York figure falls outside Florida’s likely range; Florida’s figures come from ZIP codes 12010, 12137, 12053, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Florida’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Florida is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #587 of 755 in New York. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 60% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 34%).
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). Florida’s median household income is $93,008; among the 9,577 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($70K–$116K), it’s healthier than 28%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Florida adults…
Florida runs above NY on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
5.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Florida
No hospital or community health center in Florida 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 Florida; ≈ 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 Florida adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
How Florida adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Florida runs above New York.
1 in 3 Florida 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.
15.7% of Florida adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Florida and the towns around it
Florida’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | B− | 38.2% | 11.8% | 14.4% | ZIP codes |
| Glen | B− | 38.2% | 10.6% | 15.5% | ZIP codes |
| Amsterdam | B− | 37.9% | 11.7% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
| Charleston | B | 36.7% | 10.3% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Amsterdam | C | 41.2% | 12.5% | 15.8% | CDC place |
| Fort Johnson | — | — | — | — | |
| Duanesburg | A− | 34.2% | 10.1% | 12.8% | ZIP codes |
| Mohawk | B− | 37.4% | 11% | 14.9% | ZIP codes |
Fort Johnson: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Florida adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Florida
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Florida is better than New York on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Florida’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Florida | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.1%18.1–22.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.4–16.3 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%15–18.1 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.2%32.9–43.8 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.4–13.2 | 11.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.5%32.4–38.8 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.2%33.9–40.7 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.3%26.8–32 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%10.1–12.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.6–10.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.6–8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.3%13.1–18 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.4%12.7–16.2 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.6%24.2–31.3 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%14.2–19.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.3%36.3–46.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%8–10.1 | 7.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%77.2–82.4 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.4%57.4–63.5 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%87.4–89.8 | 89.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.8–81.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.2%65.4–72.9 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%72.8–83.3 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%18.3–23.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.2%29.3–37.5 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%21.5–27.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.6%15.7–19.8 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.5%12.9–16.3 | 14.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.8–9.8 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%8.1–10 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.7%14–17.5 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.9%26.7–33.2 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%13.3–16.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12.5–15.2 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.3–7.7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.4–6.2 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%8.1–9.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 3.8% | 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 New York figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Florida
Is Florida a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Florida is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #587 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 28%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Florida?
CDC estimates 38.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 43.8%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Florida?
St. Marys Healthcare in Amsterdam, 4.2 miles in a straight line from Florida’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Florida have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–10.1%), against 7.9% across New York.
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 Florida 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 Florida.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York 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.