Photo: Bureau of Land Management California · Public domainWhere Desert Center residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Desert Center, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Desert Center. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Desert Center
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Desert Center
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.5%), 3 times the California rate. 1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.9%), more than twice the California rate. Stroke is also above the state: 6.8%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Desert Center runs above California on 11 of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 50 miles from Desert Center
The closest emergency room is John F Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio, 49.9 miles away in a straight line. And 13.3% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 9.3% across California. For everyday care, Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo is closer (35.8 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More Desert Center adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.2%), vs 24.6% across California. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Desert Center, and more people treating it
49% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 79.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. 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 Desert Center’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Desert Center adults…
Desert Center runs above CA on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Desert Center
No hospital or community health center in Desert Center 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 Desert Center; ≈ 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.
9.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Desert Center adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Desert Center adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Desert Center runs above California.
1 in 3 Desert Center 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.
31.8% of Desert Center adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Desert Center and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Desert Center adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Desert Center
Why doesn’t Desert Center have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Desert Center.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Desert Center.
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. 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.