Photo: Lights and freedom · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Castro Valley is healthier than 43%
Castro Valley beats California on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Castro Valley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Castro Valley
Against towns with similar incomes, Castro Valley’s lead shrinks
Castro Valley is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, but 43% of the 3,338 towns with similar household incomes ($107K–$178K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Castro Valley adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below California. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Castro Valley has a top-rated hospital
Eden Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Castro Valley is an active town
Only 20% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 29 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Nearly everyone in Castro Valley is insured
Only 6.4% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.6% across California. Checkups ↓
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 Castro Valley’s likely range.
What’s behind Castro Valley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Castro Valley is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #205 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 fair or poor health, still better than 64%.
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). Castro Valley’s median household income is $142,779; among the 3,338 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($107K–$178K), it’s healthier than 43%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.8% of Castro Valley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near Castro Valley
1 hospital and 3 community health centers in Castro Valley, 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 Castro Valley; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
29 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Castro Valley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Out of every 100 Castro Valley adults…
Castro Valley runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Castro Valley adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
4 in 10 Castro Valley 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.
Castro Valley and the towns around it
Castro Valley has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castro Valley | A− | 22.9% | 10.9% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| Hayward | B+ | 24.9% | 11.7% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| Fairview | A− | 24.9% | 11.1% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Ashland | C+ | 28.4% | 12.8% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Oakland | B+ | 27.6% | 11.4% | 11.5% | CDC place |
| San Leandro | B+ | 24% | 12.8% | 11% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Castro Valley adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Castro Valley
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Castro Valley is better than California on 11 and worse on 0; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Castro Valley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Castro Valley | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.8%15.8–19.9 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.7–13.5 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.8–17.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.9%19.2–27.1 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.5–12.4 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.2%26.2–32.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%31.3–38.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.2%18.9–23.8 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.4–7.7 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.5%4.1–5.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.7%5.4–8.2 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.6%8.4–11.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20%17.3–23 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.4–18.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%30–38 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.4%5.6–7.4 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.4%70.3–76.6 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.2%65.3–70.9 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.9–89.6 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.8%68.4–75 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.5%57.2–65.7 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%69.6–81.9 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.7%17.2–22.5 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%33.1–41.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.1%23.8–30.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%11.1–14.6 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.9%9.4–12.4 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.6%4.9–6.4 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%6.2–8 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.8%9.4–12.3 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.3%24.4–30.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.7%10.4–13.3 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.1%10.8–13.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6.1 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.9–4.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%6–7.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.8–3.3 | 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 Castro Valley
Is Castro Valley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Castro Valley is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #205 of 847 in California. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Castro Valley?
CDC estimates 22.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.2% and 27.1%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Castro Valley?
Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Castro Valley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Castro Valley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–7.4%), 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 Castro Valley 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 Castro Valley.
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.