Where Ballard residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ballard, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ballard. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ballard
Cancer, arthritis and COPD run high in Ballard
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11%), vs 6.4% across California. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29%), vs 20.8% across California. COPD is also above the state: 6.3%, vs 5.1% across California. In all, Ballard runs above California on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and cancer, arthritis and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Ballard keeps up with checkups
It beats California on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (76.3% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (71.1% vs 62.8%). Checkups ↓
Ballard adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (31.1% vs 37.3%), frequent mental distress (14.5% vs 16.4%) and lack of emotional support (21.1% vs 28.6%) all run below California. Mind & connection ↓
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 Ballard’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Ballard adults…
Ballard runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Ballard is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Ballard as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ballard adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Ballard adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Ballard does better than California.
1 in 3 Ballard 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.
Care in and near Ballard
No hospital or community health center in Ballard 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 Ballard; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.8% of Ballard adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Ballard and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Olivos | A | 24.4% | 10.1% | 9.5% | CDC place |
| Santa Ynez | B+ | 25.7% | 11.8% | 11.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ballard adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Ballard
Why doesn’t Ballard have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ballard.
What hospital is closest to Ballard?
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital in Solvang, 3.0 miles in a straight line from Ballard’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ballard.
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.