Benbow Inn · Photo: Gabriel Millos (gamillos) · CC BY-SA 2.0Where Benbow residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Benbow, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Benbow. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benbow
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Benbow
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), about twice the California rate. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 5.6% across California. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Benbow runs above California on ten of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Benbow
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.1%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Benbow
54.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 22.1% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
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 Benbow’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Benbow adults…
Benbow runs above CA on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Benbow is an older town: 31% 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 Benbow as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Benbow adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near Benbow
No hospital or community health center in Benbow 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 Benbow; ≈ 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).
How Benbow adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Benbow runs above California.
1 in 3 Benbow 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.
25.8% of Benbow adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Benbow 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 Benbow adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Benbow
Why doesn’t Benbow have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Benbow.
What hospital is closest to Benbow?
Jerold Phelps Community Hospital in Garberville, 3.2 miles in a straight line from Benbow’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Benbow?
3 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Redwoods Rural Health Center in Redway, 4.7 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Benbow.
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.