Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Big River is healthier than 75%
Big River differs from California on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Big River. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big River
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Big River
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.2%), more than twice the California rate. 1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.3%), about twice the California rate. Stroke is also above the state: 6.2%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Big River runs above California on ten of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 37% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Big River, and more people treating it
48.3% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 80.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Big River
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.7%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Big River is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Big River is healthier than 22%. Against the 2,320 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 75%. 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 Big River’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Big River’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big River is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 61% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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 River’s median household income is $39,773; among the 2,320 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 75%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Big River compares well: binge drinking, 11.6% (U.S. 15.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 89.6% (U.S. 87.1%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.6% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Big River adults…
Big River runs above CA on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Big River is an older town: 37% 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 Big River as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Big River 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.
11 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Big River
No hospital or community health center in Big River 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 River; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Big River adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
1 in 3 Big River 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.
19.7% of Big River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Big River and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Big River adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big River
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Big River is better than California on 6 and worse on 16; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Big River’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Big River | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.3%26.2–34.3 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.1–22.1 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.1–18.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.7%30.2–39.2 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.5%15.2–19.8 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.3%44.7–51.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45.4%41.7–48.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 39.9%36.5–43.1 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.5 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.8%11.6–14.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 12.3%10.7–13.9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.2%10.2–14.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.5–7.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14.2–20.9 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%13.7–19.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29%24.8–33.2 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.6%9.8–13.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%31–39.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%7–10.8 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%75.4–80.7 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.4%56.1–62.6 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.6%88.2–91 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%77.6–83.2 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.9%61.6–70 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70%62.9–76.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%19.2–24.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.8%29.9–37.8 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%22.5–29.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.7%14.7–21 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.3–14.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6.1–8.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%8–10.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.7%16.3–23.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.9%36.4–45.1 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24%20.6–27.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.2%14–18.3 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.7%10.2–13 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%6.8–9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.1–13.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.5%5.6–7.6 | 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 Big River
Is Big River a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big River is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: C− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Big River?
CDC estimates 34.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 39.2%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big River?
Parker Indian Health Center in Parker, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Big River’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Big River have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–10.8%), 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 River 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 Big River.
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.