Photo: Robert Campbell · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Fort Bragg is healthier than 54%
Fort Bragg trails California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fort Bragg. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fort Bragg
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Fort Bragg
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.9%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 5.6% across California. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Fort Bragg runs above California on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Fort Bragg
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (23.9%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.6%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Fort Bragg
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.3%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Fort Bragg is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Fort Bragg is healthier than 31%. Against the 7,869 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 54%. 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 Fort Bragg’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Fort Bragg’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Bragg is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns, #652 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 82% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health 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). Fort Bragg’s median household income is $56,481; among the 7,869 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 54%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Fort Bragg adults…
Fort Bragg runs above CA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Fort Bragg adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Fort Bragg runs above California.
1 in 3 Fort Bragg 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.
5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Fort Bragg
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Fort Bragg, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Fort Bragg; ≈ 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 Fort Bragg 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.
21% of Fort Bragg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Fort Bragg and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bragg | C | 30.3% | 13.8% | 15.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fort Bragg adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fort Bragg
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fort Bragg is better than California on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Fort Bragg’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fort Bragg | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.7%23.5–30.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.1–19.3 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.5–20.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.3%23.4–37.3 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8%12–15.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.9%33.5–41.9 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.4%33.9–42.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%25.3–32 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.6–10.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.9%12.9–19 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%12.8–18 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.4%23–32.3 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.6–18.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.8%29.2–42.4 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.7%9.8–14.1 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.2%69.2–76.9 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.4%54.2–62 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%83.3–87 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%70.8–77.1 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.8%55.3–65.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.8%64.1–80.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.2–27.4 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.2%30.1–40.7 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.8%22.1–30 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.8%17.8–24.3 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.2%14–18.7 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.2%7.9–10.7 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21%18–24.2 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37%32.5–41.8 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.1%16.7–21.8 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.3–19.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.7–12.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.9–6.3 | 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 Fort Bragg
Is Fort Bragg a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Bragg is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #652 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 Fort Bragg?
CDC estimates 30.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 37.3%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fort Bragg?
Adventist Health Mendocino Coast in Fort Bragg, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Fort Bragg’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fort Bragg have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–14.1%), 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 Fort Bragg more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fort Bragg.
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.