Cottonwood’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Cottonwood differs from California on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cottonwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cottonwood
More Cottonwood adults get no exercise
45.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Cottonwood
37.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 27% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Cottonwood
1 in 4 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (23.4%), 3 times the California rate. Food insecurity (51.1% vs 17.9%) and no reliable transportation (26% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 53% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% 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 Cottonwood’s likely range.
What’s behind Cottonwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cottonwood is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #840 of 847 in California. All seven of Cottonwood’s estimates fall in the lowest 8% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is fair or poor health: 42.7% of adults, against 22.1% across California and 19.4% nationally.
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 $44,247; among the 3,739 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Cottonwood compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.9% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 3.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
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.
53% of Cottonwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Out of every 100 Cottonwood adults…
Cottonwood runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 6% of Cottonwood residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
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.
How Cottonwood adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Cottonwood runs above California.
2 in 5 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.
Cottonwood and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood | D− | 43.8% | 17.2% | 20.5% | CDC place |
| Casa Loma | D− | 43.2% | 19.3% | 21.2% | 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 2 and worse on 25; 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 | 42.7%38.2–47.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.2%18.8–23.7 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.7%22.2–27.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.8%37.8–49.7 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.2%15.2–19.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.1%30.7–37.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.9%28.5–35.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.3%17.9–22.6 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.5%3.1–3.8 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%7.1–9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%4–4.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27%22.7–31.5 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.5%17.6–23.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 45.4%40.2–50.5 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.8%12.3–17.5 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.6%38.3–49.2 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 29.3%24.8–34.3 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.2%64.1–72.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 37.5%34.2–41 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 74.2%71.3–77.2 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.9%61.6–68 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 44.3%39.4–49.5 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.3%60.2–75.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%21.2–27.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 41.8%37–46.8 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.7%30.5–39.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 51.1%45.8–56.8 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 38.9%34.7–43.3 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 23.4%20.7–26.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 26%23–29.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 53%47.9–58.3 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.4%43.5–53.3 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24%21.4–26.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 27.8%24.6–31.2 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 15.1%13.6–16.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.9%14.9–19.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 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 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 near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #840 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. 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 43.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.8% and 49.7%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cottonwood?
Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, 2.7 miles in a straight line from Cottonwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cottonwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 29.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 24.8–34.3%), 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 D− to D.
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.