Photo: Thomas Camargo · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Carpinteria is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Carpinteria differs from California on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carpinteria. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carpinteria
Cancer and arthritis run high in Carpinteria
1 in 12 adults have had cancer (8.4%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (24.4%), vs 20.8% across California. Conditions ↓
Carpinteria keeps up with checkups
It beats California on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (67.1% vs 62.8%) and cholesterol checks (88.2% vs 85.4%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Carpinteria adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below California. 1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Carpinteria’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Carpinteria’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carpinteria is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #281 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 94% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Carpinteria’s median household income is $100,658; among the 8,498 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($75K–$126K), it’s healthier than 69%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Carpinteria adults…
Carpinteria runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Carpinteria adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.3% of Carpinteria adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near Carpinteria
2 community health centers in Carpinteria, 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 Carpinteria; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
8.5 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
How Carpinteria adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Carpinteria does better than California.
1 in 3 Carpinteria 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.
Carpinteria and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpinteria | A− | 25.8% | 11.1% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Toro Canyon | A | 23.8% | 11% | 8.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carpinteria adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carpinteria
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carpinteria is better than California on 9 and worse on 2; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Carpinteria’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carpinteria | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17.5–23 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.7–15.1 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13–16.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.8%20.8–31.5 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.1%9.6–12.7 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.3%28.8–36 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%31.4–39.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.4%21.7–27.3 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.4–10.6 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.3%6.7–10.1 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.3%7.8–11.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.8%18.3–25.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.4–19 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.6%25.3–36 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8.3–12.2 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.6%69.9–77 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.1%63.8–70.2 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.2%86.6–89.7 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%69.4–76 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%61.7–71.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69.2–82.9 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%17.5–23.5 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.2%28.7–38.1 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20–27 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.5%11.2–15.9 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.8%9.9–13.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%5.1–6.9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.3%6.3–8.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.3%9.4–13.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.2%26.3–34.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.2%12.3–16.3 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.1%11.5–14.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.2–4.1 | 3.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Carpinteria
Is Carpinteria a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carpinteria is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #281 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 69%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carpinteria?
CDC estimates 25.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.8% and 31.5%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carpinteria?
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, 12.6 miles in a straight line from Carpinteria’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carpinteria have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.3–12.2%), 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 Carpinteria more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Carpinteria.
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.