Ocala, FL health
Ocala differs from Florida on 7 of 33 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (16.9% vs 12.7%) and more smokers (15.5% vs 12.4%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for OcalaOcala’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Ocala is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, and than 59% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Ocala is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Florida ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Ocala with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Ocala uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
How Ocala compares with Florida
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Out of every 100 Ocala adults…
Bars show Ocala; the black tick is Florida. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
FL 26.3%
FL 37.3%
FL 14.6%
FL 12.4%
Keeping up with care
Share of Ocala adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Ocala adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Ocala adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: Florida. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Ocala
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Ocala, 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 Ocala. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Ocala
| Measure | Ocala | Margin | Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 36.6% | 33.3–40.1% | 36.6% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.3% | 33.8–40.9% | 39% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37.1% | 31.8–42.7% | 31.9% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4% | 24.7–30.2% | 26.6% | about the same |
| Depression | 19.8% | 17.1–22.8% | 17.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 16.9% | 14.2–19.8% | 12.7% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.1% | 9–11.4% | 9.4% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.9% | 8.1–9.7% | 9.1% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4% | 11.8–15% | 13.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.5% | 7.7–9.4% | 7.2% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.7% | 7–8.4% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Stroke | 4.2% | 3.9–4.5% | 3.8% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5% | 13.6–17.5% | 12.4% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.9% | 12.5–17.7% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 25.9% | 22.6–29.6% | 26.3% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.7% | 35.7–45.9% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79% | 75.9–82% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 52.8% | 49.4–56.1% | 57.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 85.1% | 83.4–86.7% | 87% | worse |
| Colon screening | 66.3% | 61.9–70.5% | 65.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 73.7% | 66.7–79.8% | 76.1% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.1% | 75.5–80.5% | 78.4% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 15.8% | 14.1–17.7% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 18.2% | 16.3–20.2% | 15.8% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 22.5% | 20.2–24.9% | 20.3% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.5% | 13.9–17.2% | 14.3% | about the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.8% | 30.4–37.5% | 31.3% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16.8% | 15.1–18.8% | 15.1% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.7% | 14.2–17.5% | 13.7% | |
| Hearing | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5% | 7.6% | |
| Vision | 7% | 6.4–7.6% | 6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3% | 4.1% | |
| Errands alone | 9.7% | 8.8–10.8% | 8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Florida figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.