Photo: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Alturas is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns
Alturas trails California on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alturas. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alturas
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Alturas
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.9%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (8%), vs 5.6% across California. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Alturas runs above California on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Alturas is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Alturas is healthier than 28%. Against the 8,884 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 44%. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Alturas
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.9%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.6%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Alturas
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.2%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Alturas has a top-rated hospital
Modoc Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Alturas’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Alturas’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alturas is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns, #664 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 73% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Alturas’ median household income is $59,896; among the 8,884 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 44%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Alturas adults…
Alturas runs above CA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Alturas adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Alturas runs above California.
1 in 3 Alturas 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
2.3 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Alturas
1 hospital in Alturas, 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 Alturas; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Alturas adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.4% of Alturas adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Alturas and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alturas | C | 32.6% | 13.1% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| Daphnedale Park | — | — | — | — |
Daphnedale Park: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alturas adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alturas
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alturas is better than California on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Alturas’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alturas | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.7%22–30.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.6–19.4 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.2–22.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.6%24.6–40.9 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.1%11.2–15.2 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.5%32–40.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33–42.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%24.9–31.9 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.1–10.1 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–9.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.5–10.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.8–5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13%10.6–15.8 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%13.3–19.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%22–32.4 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.6–18.8 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%27.2–40.8 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%6.8–11 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.2%69–77.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.8%58.1–65.5 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.3–86.9 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%70.8–77.3 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.5%57.2–67.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%63–79.4 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.9%22–29.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.8%29.6–40.7 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%21.4–29.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.5%15.2–22.6 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.3%11.9–17.1 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.3–10.2 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.2%8.7–11.9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.4%16.8–24.7 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%31.6–42.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.6%15.9–21.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.7%15.3–20.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%5.8–7.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.5–12.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.5–6.1 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Alturas
Is Alturas a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alturas is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #664 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alturas?
CDC estimates 32.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.6% and 40.9%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alturas?
Modoc Medical Center in Alturas, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Alturas’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Alturas have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–11%), 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 Alturas more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alturas.
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.