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Alpine, California western town limit sign (2010)Photo: Amin Eshaiker · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+Health Grade
Health in Alpine · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Alpine is healthier than 49%

Alpine differs from California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 5 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alpine. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Alpine

Cancer, COPD and arthritis run high in Alpine

1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.3%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 16 adults have COPD (6.4%), vs 5.1% across California. Arthritis is also above the state: 25.1%, vs 20.8% across California. In all, Alpine runs above California on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Alpine keeps up with checkups

It beats California on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (74.7% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (66.3% vs 62.8%). Checkups ↓

Against towns with similar incomes, Alpine’s lead shrinks

Alpine is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, but 49% of the 7,337 towns with similar household incomes ($81K–$136K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓

Fewer Alpine adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below California. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

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 California figure falls outside Alpine’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Alpine’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alpine is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #337 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 91% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 42%).

B−Self-rated health19.3% · CA 22.1% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.6% · CA 13.4% · U.S. 13%
C+Mental distress17.5% · CA 16.4% · U.S. 15.9%
AObesity27.2% · CA 27.8% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.6% · CA 11.7% · U.S. 12%
A−Smoking11.9% smoke · CA 10.9% · U.S. 11.8%
A−Exercise20.1% · CA 24.6% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 72%
Less healthyHealthier
California towns we grade (847)Healthier than 60%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $81K–$136K (7,337)Healthier than 49%

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). Alpine’s median household income is $108,660; among the 7,337 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$136K), it’s healthier than 49%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Alpine could be anywhere from B− to A.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Alpine adults…

Alpine runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Alpine adults have had cancer
California: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 8.6–10.2%
Better than CAWorseAbout the sameCalifornia
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Alpine adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.

75%Yearly checkupCA 72%
66%Dentist visitCA 63%
87%Cholesterol checkCA 85%
66%Colon screeningCA 58%
75%MammogramCA 76%
71%Taking BP medsCA 71%
1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Alpine 6.5% · California 1 in 9 (10.6%)
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Alpine adults worry about having enough food
13% · CA 17.9%
Better than CA
1 in 8
Alpine adults worry about keeping their housing
11.8% · CA 14.9%
Better than CA
1 in 16
Alpine adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.2% · CA 7.3%
Better than CA
1 in 13
Alpine adults lack reliable transportation
7.7% · CA 9.3%
Better than CA

13.5% of Alpine adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.

Getting care

Care in and near Alpine

1 community health center in Alpine, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERGrossmont HospitalLa Mesa · 15.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyGrossmont Hospital★★★★★ · 15.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSan Ysidro Health Alpine Family MedicineAlpine · 1.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.5 mi
San Ysidro Health Alpine Family Medicine
Alpine · community health center
Sliding-scale feesIn Alpine
9.7 mi
Neighborhood Healthcare
2 sites · nearest in Lakeside
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
15.3 mi
Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa · ★★★★★
ER
20 mi
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego
San Diego · ★★★★★
ER
20.5 mi
Palomar Medical Center Poway
Poway · ★★★★★
ER
≈21.2 mi
VA San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego · ★★★★★
ERFor veterans
✓ Primary careAlpine is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careAlpine is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthAlpine is not a shortage area

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 Alpine; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with California

Share of adults, with the California figure marked.

Get no exercise 20.1%CA 24.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 33.6%CA 35.1%
Binge drink 16.7%CA 15.3%
Smoke cigarettes 11.9%CA 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Alpine, betterAlpine, worseAbout the sameCalifornia
Where Alpine gets moving

14 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Alpine adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Alpine runs above California.

1 in 3Alpine adults feel lonely
34.5% · CA 37.3% · About the same as CA
1 in 4Alpine adults lack social or emotional support
26.1% · CA 28.6% · About the same as CA
1 in 4Alpine adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.1% · CA 20.1% · Worse than CA
1 in 6Alpine adults are in frequent mental distress
17.5% · CA 16.4% · About the same as CA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Alpine adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Alpine and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
AlpineB+27.2%10.6%11.9%CDC place
Harbison CanyonB+27.4%11.1%12.5%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29.1%

of Alpine adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.8%
Thinking or memory14.4%
Hearing6.6%
Errands alone8.2%
Vision4.8%
Dressing or bathing3.8%
California

Every CDC estimate for Alpine

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alpine is better than California on 12 and worse on 5; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Alpine’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…AlpineCAU.S.vs CA
Overall health
Fair or poor health19.3%17.1–21.722.1%19.4%Better
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.6%12.1–15.213.4%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.5%15.7–19.516.4%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity27.2%23.8–30.927.8%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.6%9.4–1211.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure32.8%30.2–35.530.5%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.2%33.6–39.235.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis25.1%23–27.420.8%25.3%Worse
Asthma10%9–11.39.3%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.3%8.6–10.26.4%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease6.4%5.8–7.25.6%6.4%Worse
COPD6.4%5.6–7.35.1%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.4%3.1–3.83.1%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)8.7%7–10.510.6%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes11.9%10.2–13.910.9%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work20.1%17.5–2324.6%24.7%Better
Binge drinking16.7%14.7–19.115.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours33.6%30.2–3735.1%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6.5%5.5–7.810.6%11%Better
Checkup in the past year74.7%72.3–77.471.9%77.4%Better
Dentist visit in the past year66.3%63.5–6962.8%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years87.3%85.8–88.885.4%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)71.3%68.5–74.271.3%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)66.3%62.3–69.957.5%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)75%68.7–80.575.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.1%21.7–2720.1%20.6%Worse
Feel lonely34.5%31.4–38.137.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support26.1%23.5–29.328.6%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food13%11.2–15.217.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing11.8%10.3–13.614.9%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.2%5.4–7.27.3%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation7.7%6.8–8.79.3%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)13.5%11.6–15.715.6%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability29.1%26.2–32.430.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13.8%12.2–15.613.8%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.4%12.8–16.214.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6.6%5.9–7.45.9%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.8%4.3–5.35.6%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone8.2%7.3–9.28.1%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.8%3.4–4.33.9%3.8%About the same

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 California figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Alpine

Is Alpine a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alpine is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #337 of 847 in California. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Alpine?

CDC estimates 27.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.8% and 30.9%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Alpine?

Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, 15.3 miles in a straight line from Alpine’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Alpine have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–7.8%), against 10.6% across California.

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 Alpine 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 Alpine.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California 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.