Photo: Craig Dietrich · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, California City is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
California City differs from California State on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for California City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in California City
Making ends meet is harder in California City
1 in 7 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (15.2%), about twice the California State rate. Food insecurity (31% vs 17.9%) and no reliable transportation (16.4% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 33.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
The nearest ER is 35 miles from California City
The closest emergency room is Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley in Tehachapi, 35.3 miles away in a straight line. And 16.4% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 9.3% across California State. For everyday care, Bartz-Altadonna Community Health Center is closer (15.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
COPD, obesity and stroke run high in California City
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.1%), vs 5.1% across California State. 2 in 5 adults have obesity (39.5%), vs 27.8% across California State. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.1% across California State. In all, California City runs above California State on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More California City adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (40.3%, vs 30.4% across California State). The biggest difference is vision loss: 9% vs 5.6%. Disability ↓
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 State figure falls outside California City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind California City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, California City is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #799 of 847 in California State. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 25% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). California City’s median household income is $60,113; among the 8,944 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 9%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where California City compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
33.1% of California City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California State.
Care in and near California City
No hospital or community health center in California 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 California 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).
Out of every 100 California City adults…
California City runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of California City residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California State. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of California City adults live with a disability (California State 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Everyday habits, side by side with California State
Share of adults, with the California State figure marked.
243 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of California City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California State.
How California City adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, California City runs above California State.
2 in 5 California 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.
California City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California City | D | 39.5% | 14.7% | 18.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for California City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, California City is better than California State on 1 and worse on 23; on the rest, the California State figure falls inside California City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | California City | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.9%27.7–34 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.5–19.2 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.8%19.6–24.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%33.9–45.3 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.7%13–16.4 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.3%32.8–39.9 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.1%29.6–36.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23%20.5–25.7 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.6 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6.1 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.1%7.2–9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.9%14.8–21.3 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.4%16.1–20.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.4%29.2–37.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14–19.7 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.6%36.5–47 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.8%13.6–18.1 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 71%67.2–74.5 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.3%46.8–53.9 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.8%77.5–81.9 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.3%65.2–71.2 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56%51.1–60.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73%65.8–79.6 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.4%20.3–26.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 38%33.3–42.6 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.3%28.3–36.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31%27.3–34.7 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.7%21.8–27.6 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.2%13.4–17 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.4%14.6–18.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.1%29.7–36.3 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.3%36.3–44.3 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.4%17.3–21.5 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%18.9–23.3 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9%8.2–9.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.4%11.1–13.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.9–7 | 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 State figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in California City
Is California City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, California City is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #799 of 847 in California State. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 9%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in California City?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.9% and 45.3%, against 27.8% across California State and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in California City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.6–18.1%), against 10.6% across California State.
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 California City 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 California City.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California State 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.