Photo: Alden Jewell · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Fortuna is healthier than 61%
Fortuna differs from California on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fortuna. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fortuna
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Fortuna
1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.1%), vs 6.4% across California. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.4%, vs 5.6% across California. In all, Fortuna runs above California on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fortuna is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Fortuna is healthier than 41%. Against the 9,474 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 61%. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Fortuna
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.6%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.5%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Fortuna
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.7%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Fortuna has a top-rated hospital
Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Fortuna’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Fortuna’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fortuna is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns, #594 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 78% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Fortuna’s median household income is $62,289; among the 9,474 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 61%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Fortuna compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 8.8% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Fortuna adults…
Fortuna runs above CA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Fortuna adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Fortuna runs above California.
1 in 3 Fortuna 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.
2.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Fortuna
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Fortuna, 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 Fortuna; ≈ 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 Fortuna 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.
17% of Fortuna adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Fortuna and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortuna | C+ | 31.6% | 11.8% | 14.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fortuna adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fortuna
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fortuna is better than California on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Fortuna’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fortuna | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.5%20.7–26.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.6 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.4–21.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.6%25.5–38.2 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.3–13.5 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.9%30.4–37.7 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%32.8–40.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.5–30.5 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.3 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–10 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.7–8.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%7.1–9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.4–15.5 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.6–16.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.2%21.3–29.5 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%13.9–19.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.5%27.5–39.9 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%7.5–10.2 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.2%68.4–75.7 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.5%57.7–64.9 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%83.1–86.5 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74%71.1–76.9 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%56.6–66.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%67–81.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%22.2–29.3 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%29.5–39.7 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%22.6–30.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.9%14.5–19.5 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.6%11.9–15.6 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.4%8.3–10.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17%14.7–19.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%31.1–39.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%14.9–19.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%15–18.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.9 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.4–6.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%9–11.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 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 Fortuna
Is Fortuna a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fortuna is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #594 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 Fortuna?
CDC estimates 31.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.5% and 38.2%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fortuna?
Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Fortuna’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fortuna have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.2%), 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 Fortuna more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fortuna.
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.