Welaka, FL health
Welaka differs from Florida on 18 of 33 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (9.7% vs 14.6%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (86% vs 78.4%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (16.9% vs 7.2%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WelakaWelaka’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Welaka is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Welaka does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 Welaka 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. Welaka 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 Welaka 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 Welaka adults…
Bars show Welaka; 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 Welaka adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Welaka adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Welaka 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 Welaka
No hospital or community health center in Welaka 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 Welaka. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Welaka
| Measure | Welaka | Margin | Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 52.5% | 48.2–56.8% | 36.6% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 47.8% | 43.4–52.2% | 39% | worse |
| Obesity | 33.1% | 27–39.7% | 31.9% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 42.6% | 38.7–46.6% | 26.6% | worse |
| Depression | 18.2% | 15.5–21.1% | 17.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 21.6% | 18–25.5% | 12.7% | worse |
| Asthma | 11% | 9.7–12.4% | 9.4% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 13.7% | 12.3–15.1% | 9.1% | worse |
| Diabetes | 22.5% | 19.6–25.6% | 13.5% | worse |
| COPD | 16.9% | 14.2–19.8% | 7.2% | worse |
| Heart disease | 15.2% | 13.4–17.2% | 7.5% | worse |
| Stroke | 7.9% | 6.8–9% | 3.8% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.5% | 17.2–24.1% | 12.4% | worse |
| Binge drink | 9.7% | 7.9–11.8% | 14.6% | better |
| Get no exercise | 37.4% | 31.8–43.5% | 26.3% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39% | 33.4–44.7% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 83.1% | 80.3–85.7% | 78.4% | better |
| Dentist visit | 45.1% | 41.7–48.4% | 57.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 88% | 86.4–89.6% | 87% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.6% | 61.7–71.2% | 65.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 74% | 66.8–80.2% | 76.1% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 86% | 83.7–88% | 78.4% | better |
| No health insurance | 16.2% | 13.2–19.7% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 17.4% | 15.5–19.6% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 33.4% | 28.8–38.2% | 20.3% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 21.8% | 19–24.9% | 14.3% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46% | 40.7–51.5% | 31.3% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 28.8% | 24.8–33% | 15.1% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.7% | 15.4–20.2% | 13.7% | |
| Hearing | 14.4% | 12.6–16.4% | 7.6% | |
| Vision | 10.8% | 9.3–12.4% | 6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 8.3% | 7.1–9.6% | 4.1% | |
| Errands alone | 14.1% | 12–16.2% | 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.