Where Alta Sierra residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Alta Sierra, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alta Sierra. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alta Sierra
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Alta Sierra
1 in 8 adults have COPD (13%), more than twice the California rate. 1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.1%), about twice the California rate. Cancer is also above the state: 12.7%, vs 6.4% across California. In all, Alta Sierra runs above California on 11 of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Alta Sierra, and more people treating it
47.3% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 81.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Alta Sierra
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.7%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
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 Alta Sierra’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Alta Sierra adults…
Alta Sierra runs above CA on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Alta Sierra adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
1.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Alta Sierra
No hospital or community health center in Alta Sierra 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 Alta Sierra; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Alta Sierra adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Alta Sierra runs above California.
1 in 3 Alta Sierra adults feel lonely. 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.
20.9% of Alta Sierra adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Alta Sierra and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alta Sierra adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Alta Sierra
Why doesn’t Alta Sierra have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Alta Sierra.
What hospital is closest to Alta Sierra?
Kern Valley Healthcare District in Lake Isabella, 10.0 miles in a straight line from Alta Sierra’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Alta Sierra?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Kern River Health Center in Wofford Heights, 5.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alta Sierra.
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. 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.