Photo: Magi Media (originally uploaded on en.wikipedia.org by Magi Media; transferred to Commons by JaumeBG). · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Big Bear City is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns
Big Bear City differs from California on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Big Bear City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big Bear City
COPD, cancer and arthritis run high in Big Bear City
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.9%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.7%), vs 6.4% across California. Arthritis is also above the state: 30.4%, vs 20.8% across California. In all, Big Bear City runs above California on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Big Bear City, and more people treating it
38% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 74.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Big Bear City
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (13.7%), 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 Big Bear City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Big Bear City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Bear City is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns, #538 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 72% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). Big Bear City’s median household income is $71,511; among the 10,628 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$89K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Where Big Bear City compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 8.1% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Big Bear City adults…
Big Bear City runs above CA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Big Bear City 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.
125 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Big Bear City
No hospital or community health center in Big Bear City 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 Big Bear City; ≈ 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 Big Bear City adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Big Bear City does better than California.
1 in 3 Big Bear City 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.
15.9% of Big Bear City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Big Bear City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bear City | B− | 32.8% | 12.5% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Big Bear Lake | B | 31.7% | 13% | 12.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Big Bear City adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big Bear City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Big Bear City is better than California on 7 and worse on 11; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Big Bear City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Big Bear City | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.4%20.9–26.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.9–17.3 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.6–19.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.8%28.6–37.2 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.9–14.1 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38%34.8–41.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%35.8–42.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 30.4%27.6–33.2 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.8–10.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7–8.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.9%7–8.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.4–12.6 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%11.9–15.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 22.6%19.7–25.7 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%13–17.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.3%31.3–39.7 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%7–9.4 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.8%70.8–76.6 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.6%57.5–63.8 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.8–88.7 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.7%71.6–77.5 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.2%57.8–66.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%67.2–79.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%19.9–25.6 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.3%30.7–38.1 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%22.2–28.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.2%13.2–17.5 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.4–13.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.8–7.7 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.4%7.5–9.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.9%13.8–18.1 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.3%29.1–35.7 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%14.3–18.1 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%13.5–16.8 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5 | 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 Big Bear City
Is Big Bear City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Bear City is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #538 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Big Bear City?
CDC estimates 32.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 37.2%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big Bear City?
Mountains Community Hospital in Lake Arrowhead, 23.1 miles in a straight line from Big Bear City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Big Bear City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.4%), 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 Big Bear City more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Big Bear City.
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.