Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Carlsbad as a whole is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns
Carlsbad differs from California on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carlsbad. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carlsbad
Carlsbad keeps up with checkups
It beats California on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (75.9% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (72% vs 62.8%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Carlsbad
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.4%), vs 6.4% across California. Conditions ↓
Carlsbad is an active town
Only 15.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 135 miles of trails across 32 parks and preserves. 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 Carlsbad’s likely range.
What’s behind Carlsbad’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carlsbad is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns, #78 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 98% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 85%.
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). Carlsbad’s median household income is $142,748; among the 3,344 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($107K–$178K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
At 112,260 residents, Carlsbad is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Keeping up with care
Share of Carlsbad 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.
135 miles of trails across 32 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Carlsbad adults…
Carlsbad runs below CA on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Carlsbad
1 community health center in Carlsbad, 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 Carlsbad; ≈ 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 Carlsbad adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Carlsbad does better than California.
1 in 3 Carlsbad 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.
8% of Carlsbad adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Carlsbad and the towns around it
Carlsbad’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad | A+ | 23.3% | 8.8% | 8% | CDC place |
| Encinitas | A+ | 23.4% | 8.6% | 7.8% | CDC place |
| Oceanside | A− | 26.1% | 10.4% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Lake San Marcos | A− | 22.4% | 12.3% | 7.4% | CDC place |
| San Marcos | A− | 25.3% | 9.5% | 9.9% | CDC place |
| Vista | B+ | 27.5% | 10.1% | 11.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carlsbad adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carlsbad
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carlsbad is better than California on 22 and worse on 1; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Carlsbad’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carlsbad | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.3%12.9–15.9 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.7%9.7–12 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13.2–16.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.3%20.4–26.8 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.8%7.8–10 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.6%27.2–32.2 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.4%32.7–38.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.5%20.4–24.7 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.2%8.3–10.3 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.7–10.3 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.8–5.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.5%4–5 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–2.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.9%4.8–7.2 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8%7–9.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.5%13.6–17.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14.7–19.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.3%28.1–34.6 | 35.1% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.5%3.9–5.2 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%73.5–78.5 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72%69.5–74.4 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.6%88.5–90.8 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.2%68.2–74.2 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.5%62.7–70 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.8%73.1–83.6 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.9%19.7–24.6 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%29.3–35.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20.9–25.9 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.4%4.8–6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8%7–9.1 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.2%21–25.7 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.4%9.3–11.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.9%9.9–12.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%5–6.2 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6%5.4–6.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Carlsbad
Is Carlsbad a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carlsbad is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #78 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carlsbad?
CDC estimates 23.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.4% and 26.8%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carlsbad?
Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, 5.0 miles in a straight line from Carlsbad’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carlsbad have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–5.2%), 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 Carlsbad more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Carlsbad.
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.