Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Durham is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns
Durham differs from California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Durham. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Durham
Cancer, COPD and arthritis run high in Durham
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 14 adults have COPD (7%), vs 5.1% across California. Arthritis is also above the state: 27.7%, vs 20.8% across California. In all, Durham runs above California on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and cancer, COPD and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Durham keeps up with checkups
It beats California on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (68.9% vs 62.8%) and cholesterol checks (88.1% vs 85.4%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Durham 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 ↓
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 Durham’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Durham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #364 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 85% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 48%).
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). Durham’s median household income is $95,417; among the 9,238 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$119K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Durham adults…
Durham runs above CA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Durham is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Durham as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Durham 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.
12.3% of Durham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near Durham
No hospital or community health center in Durham 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 Durham; ≈ 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.
25 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Durham adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Durham runs above California.
1 in 3 Durham 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.
Durham and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Durham adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Durham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Durham is better than California on 10 and worse on 7; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Durham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Durham | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.8%17–23.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.2–16.1 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.8–19.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.5%23.4–36.1 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.3%9.6–13.1 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.7%31.7–39.9 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.1–41.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.7%24.4–31.2 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.2–11.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7%6–8.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.2%8.3–12.3 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%10.1–14.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.7%17.1–25 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.2%14.2–20.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4%24.9–36.2 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.2%5.1–7.4 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.3%71.6–78.8 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.9%65.5–71.9 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%86.5–89.7 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.6%71.2–77.8 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.4%60.5–69.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69.1–82.9 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%21.1–28.4 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%26.8–36.3 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%19.2–26.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.8%9.8–14.1 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%8.7–12.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.1–7.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.3%10.1–14.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.7%26.5–35.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.9%12.7–17.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%11.8–15.7 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.5–8.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.2–5.4 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7.1–9.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.5–4.5 | 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 Durham
Is Durham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #364 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Durham?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 36.1%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Durham?
Enloe Health in Chico, 8.2 miles in a straight line from Durham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Durham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–7.4%), 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 Durham more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Durham.
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.