On CDC estimates, Empire is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns
Empire trails California on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Empire. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Empire
More Empire adults get no exercise
36.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Empire
50.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 17.5% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
COPD, obesity and stroke run high in Empire
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.7%), vs 5.1% across California. 2 in 5 adults have obesity (41.1%), vs 27.8% across California. Stroke is also above the state: 4%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Empire runs above California on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Empire’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Empire’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Empire is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns, #805 of 847 in California. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 24% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Empire’s median household income is $52,563; among the 6,659 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$66K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Empire adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Out of every 100 Empire adults…
Empire runs above CA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Empire
No hospital or community health center in Empire 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 Empire; ≈ 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).
How Empire adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Empire runs above California.
4 in 10 Empire 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.
29.7% of Empire adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Empire and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Empire adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Empire
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Empire is better than California on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Empire’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Empire | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.2%28.9–35.9 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.5–20.7 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.6–23.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.1%34.7–47.8 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.4–16.1 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.4%30.8–38.2 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.5%31.7–39.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.4%21.7–27.3 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.8 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.2–6.4 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.3–7.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.5%14.4–21 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.5%15.2–20.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.7%32–41.5 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%13.8–19.9 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.6%31.9–43.7 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.2%15.5–21.3 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.8%65.8–73.9 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.6%46.9–54.5 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.7%78.2–83 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.1%65.6–72.5 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 51.2%46.1–56.5 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%65.9–80.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.9–25.5 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.9%31–40.6 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.5%25.5–33.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 29.4%25.5–33.4 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.4%20.4–26.4 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.9%11.2–14.7 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.9%13.2–16.9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 29.7%26.1–33.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.5%37.1–46.1 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20%17.7–22.5 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.5%18.3–22.8 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.3 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.2%8.4–10.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.1%10.8–13.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.3%5.6–6.9 | 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 Empire
Is Empire a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Empire is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health, #805 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Empire?
CDC estimates 41.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.7% and 47.8%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Empire?
Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, 4.1 miles in a straight line from Empire’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Empire have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.5–21.3%), 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 Empire more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Empire.
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.