Photo: Amin Eshaiker · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Barstow is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns
Barstow differs from California on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Barstow. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Barstow
Dental care lags in Barstow
48.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 17.1% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Barstow
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (30.2%), vs 17.9% across California. Utility shut-off threats (13.3% vs 7.3%) and no reliable transportation (15.6% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 31.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, obesity and stroke run high in Barstow
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.3%), vs 5.1% across California. 2 in 5 adults have obesity (37.6%), vs 27.8% across California. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Barstow runs above California on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Barstow is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Barstow is healthier than 15%. Against the 6,904 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 31%. Health Grade ↓
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 Barstow’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Barstow’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Barstow is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns, #755 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 39% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Barstow’s median household income is $53,380; among the 6,904 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Barstow compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Barstow 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.
31.1% of Barstow adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Out of every 100 Barstow adults…
Barstow runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Barstow residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Barstow
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Barstow, 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 Barstow; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
62 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
How Barstow adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Barstow runs above California.
2 in 5 Barstow 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.
Barstow and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Barstow adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Barstow
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Barstow is better than California on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Barstow’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Barstow | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.8%28.1–33.5 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.3–18.8 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%18.9–23.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.6%33.1–42 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12.4–15.6 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.6%32.7–38.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.4%31.4–37.3 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.5%22.2–26.8 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.8 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.2–7.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.1%14.3–20.6 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4%14.5–18.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.2%26.8–33.5 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.7–17.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.2%37–45.9 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.7%12.9–16.6 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.1%66.7–73.3 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.9%45.6–52.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.5%79.5–83.4 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.3%66.4–72.1 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54.2%49.7–58.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.1%63–76.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%19.6–25 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.1%36.2–44.2 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.8%28.4–35.3 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.2%27.2–33.4 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.5%20.9–26.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.3%11.7–14.9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.6%14–17.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.1%28.3–34.1 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.3%33.9–40.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.9%16.1–19.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%18.2–22.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.8%8.1–9.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%11.1–13.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.6–6.6 | 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 Barstow
Is Barstow a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Barstow is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #755 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Barstow?
CDC estimates 37.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.1% and 42%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Barstow?
Barstow Community Hospital in Barstow, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Barstow’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Barstow have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.9–16.6%), 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 Barstow more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Barstow.
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.