Orlando emerged as Florida’s healthiest city, ranking 24th nationally among more than 180 of America’s most populated cities in a new WalletHub study examining diet, fitness and overall health factors. The City Beautiful scored 56.07 points overall, leading all Florida municipalities in the comprehensive health assessment. Cape Coral finished at the bottom of Florida cities, landing at No. 150 nationally with a total score of 36.97 points.
“Staying healthy is a personal responsibility, and everyone should strive to eat nutritious food, exercise regularly and look after their mental health,” said Chip Lupo, an analyst for WalletHub. “However, where people live can have a big influence on how successful they are at staying in good health.” Orlando particularly excelled in dietary and fitness access categories, though the city lagged in green space availability, ranking 58th in that category.
Tampa claimed the second-best position among Florida cities at No. 36 nationally with 53.49 points, followed by Miami at No. 46 with 51.89 points. St. Petersburg rounded out the top four Florida cities at No. 53 with 50.58 points. Fort Lauderdale completed the top five at No. 56 with 50.25 points, demonstrating the concentration of healthier cities in Central and South Florida.
Cape Coral’s poor showing reflected struggles across multiple health categories, particularly in green space where it ranked 164th nationally and healthcare services. The Lee County city scored 165th in healthcare, 144th in food access, 114th in fitness opportunities and 164th in green space availability. Port St. Lucie also performed poorly, finishing as Florida’s second-worst city at No. 141 nationally with 38.25 points.
The study’s methodology examined factors including access to healthy food options, fitness facilities, healthcare quality and green spaces across America’s largest metropolitan areas. San Francisco topped the national rankings for the second consecutive year, followed by San Diego at No. 2 and Seattle at No. 3. Orlando’s 24th-place finish represented the highest ranking achieved by any Florida city in the comprehensive health assessment.
Jacksonville, Florida’s largest city by population, ranked 77th nationally with 47.23 points, scoring particularly poorly in healthcare access at 142nd place. Tallahassee performed worse at No. 118 with 42.81 points, while Hialeah landed at No. 134 with 39.26 points. Pembroke Pines finished at No. 74 with 47.30 points, rounding out the middle tier of Florida cities in the health rankings.
The rankings highlight significant disparities in health resources and outcomes across Florida’s major metropolitan areas. Orlando’s strong performance in dietary and fitness access categories reflects the city’s investment in recreational facilities and food access programs. The study’s findings provide municipalities with data-driven insights for improving public health infrastructure and community wellness programs.