Photo: Ben Evans · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Lakeland is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Lakeland beats Tennessee on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and trails 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
Lakeland is an active town
Only 16.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.6% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Lakeland
Lakeland runs below Tennessee on six chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.2% vs 8.6%), stroke (2.6% vs 3.7%) and heart disease (5% vs 7%). Conditions ↓
Lakeland keeps up with checkups
It beats Tennessee on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (70.3% vs 58.1%) and cholesterol checks (90.4% vs 86.6%). Checkups ↓
Lakeland is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Arlington (A−). Around town ↓
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 Tennessee figure falls outside Lakeland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Lakeland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakeland is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #10 of 176 in Tennessee. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 94% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 77%.
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 $116,250; among the 6,263 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($87K–$145K), it’s healthier than 82%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
Out of every 100 Lakeland adults…
Lakeland runs below TN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lakeland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Lakeland and the towns around it
Lakeland has the best Health Grade of the 4 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.
Care in and near Lakeland
No hospital or community health center in Lakeland 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 Lakeland; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Lakeland adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lakeland does better than Tennessee.
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.
5.9% of Lakeland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lakeland adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lakeland
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lakeland is better than Tennessee on 22 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Tennessee 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 | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.6%11.8–15.9 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 14.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.5–17.3 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.1%25.9–34.7 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.3%9–11.8 | 13.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.2%30.9–37.6 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%34.9–42.2 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.1%22.5–27.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.5–5.7 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.2%4.5–6.2 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–2.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.3%5.9–8.9 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.9%9.1–13.2 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.9%14.4–20 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.5–20.1 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6%28.6–36.9 | 38.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.6–8.2 | 11.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%77.1–83 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.3%67.4–73.2 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.4%89–91.8 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.4%72–78.4 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.6%63.5–71.7 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%72.6–84.1 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%22.3–28.6 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%21.2–27.3 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.2%23.1–29.8 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.6%9.2–12.4 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.1%10.5–13.9 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%2.9–3.7 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%5.1–6.8 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.2–2.8 | 4.1% | 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 Tennessee 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 healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #10 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 82%. 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 30.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.9% and 34.7%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lakeland?
Saint Francis Bartlett Medical Center in Bartlett, 5.8 miles in a straight line from Lakeland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lakeland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–8.2%), against 11.6% across Tennessee.
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 B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lakeland.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Tennessee 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.