Photo: Sam Beebe Camera location43° 59′ 53.4″ N, 124° 05′ 43.8″ W View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap 43.998167; -124.095500 · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Florence is healthier than 81%
Florence differs from Oregon on 15 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 10 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 is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Florence is healthier than 47%. Against the 6,890 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 81%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, stroke and heart disease run high in Florence
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (15.2%), vs 8.9% across Oregon. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.6%), vs 3.3% across Oregon. Heart disease is also above the state: 11%, vs 6.5% across Oregon. In all, Florence runs above Oregon on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 43% of residents are 65 or older (Oregon 19%), and cancer, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Florence, and more people treating it
44.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Oregon 32.7%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Florence has a five-star hospital
Peace Harbor Medical Center is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Florence keeps up with checkups
It beats Oregon on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (79.5% vs 72.6%) and cholesterol checks (88.6% vs 84%). Checkups ↓
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 Oregon figure falls outside Florence’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Florence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Florence is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #87 of 142 in Oregon. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 73% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 12%).
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 $53,333; among the 6,890 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 81%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Florence compares well: binge drinking, 10.2% (U.S. 15.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 88.6% (U.S. 87.1%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Florence adults…
Florence runs above OR on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Florence is an older town: 43% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Oregon. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Florence as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Florence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
Care in and near Florence
1 hospital in Florence, 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 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Oregon
Share of adults, with the Oregon figure marked.
4.6 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Florence adults are doing
About the same as Oregon 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.
Florence and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | B− | 34.2% | 15.1% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Heceta Beach | B+ | 32.8% | 14.9% | 9.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Florence adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Florence
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Florence is better than Oregon on 5 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Oregon 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 | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.5–25.6 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15–19.2 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.1–17.7 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.2%29.7–38.6 | 33.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.1–17.2 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.9%41.2–48.4 | 32.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44%40.2–47.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 42%38.5–45.2 | 27.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.9–13.6 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 15.2%13.9–16.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 11%9.7–12.3 | 6.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.3–12.5 | 6.8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.6%4.9–6.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.7–17.3 | 12.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.2%10.3–14.2 | 12% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.8%19.2–26.5 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 10.2%8.6–11.9 | 15.4% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.6%23.8–31.6 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%6.3–9.1 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76.8–81.9 | 72.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.7%63.5–69.8 | 64.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%87.2–90 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%78.5–83.7 | 71.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.2%65.9–74.3 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%70.5–82.6 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25%22–27.9 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38%34–41.9 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.3%17.5–23.1 | 13% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.4–15.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.7%10.2–13 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.4–11 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 3.4% | 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 Oregon 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 47% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #87 of 142 in Oregon. 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 34.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 38.6%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Florence?
Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Florence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Florence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–9.1%), against 8.5% across Oregon.
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 C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Florence.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oregon 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.