Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Cottonwood is healthier than 31%
Cottonwood differs from California on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cottonwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cottonwood
COPD, cancer and arthritis run high in Cottonwood
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.5%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9%), vs 6.4% across California. Arthritis is also above the state: 27.1%, vs 20.8% across California. In all, Cottonwood runs above California on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Cottonwood
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.3%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.7%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Cottonwood
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.7%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Cottonwood’s lead shrinks
Cottonwood is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, but 31% of the 9,212 towns with similar household incomes ($72K–$119K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. 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 Cottonwood’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Cottonwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cottonwood is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, #523 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 85% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Cottonwood’s median household income is $95,577; among the 9,212 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$119K), it’s healthier than 31%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Cottonwood adults…
Cottonwood runs above CA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Cottonwood residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
How Cottonwood adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Cottonwood runs above California.
4 in 10 Cottonwood 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
Care in and near Cottonwood
No hospital or community health center in Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Cottonwood 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.
14.6% of Cottonwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Cottonwood and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood | B− | 29.4% | 11.1% | 14.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cottonwood adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cottonwood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cottonwood is better than California on 4 and worse on 11; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Cottonwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cottonwood | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%19.3–25 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.5–17.1 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.6–21.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.4%23.5–36 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.1%9.7–12.7 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.6%30.9–38.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.4%34.3–42.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.1%24.1–30.3 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.5 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.1–9.9 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.1–7.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.5%6.6–8.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.5%8.4–12.8 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.6–16.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.8%18.3–25.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15.2–21.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%31.3–44.5 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%6–8.7 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.7%68.8–76.3 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.7%60.9–68.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.4–87.1 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.8%68.6–74.9 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.3%60–69.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.3%66–81.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%21.9–28.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 36%30.9–41.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%22.4–30.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.4%12.2–17 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.2%10.4–14.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%6–8.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.5–9.7 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.6%12.3–17.2 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.3%29.2–37.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.6–17.8 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.4–18.2 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.3–10.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.7 | 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 Cottonwood
Is Cottonwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cottonwood is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #523 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 Cottonwood?
CDC estimates 29.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.5% and 36%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cottonwood?
Mercy Medical Center Redding in Redding, 13.3 miles in a straight line from Cottonwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cottonwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–8.7%), 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 Cottonwood more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cottonwood.
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.