Courtlandt Gross House · Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Golden Hills is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Golden Hills differs from California on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Golden Hills. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Golden Hills
Cancer, COPD and arthritis run high in Golden Hills
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (8.7%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 16 adults have COPD (6.4%), vs 5.1% across California. Arthritis is also above the state: 25.3%, vs 20.8% across California. In all, Golden Hills runs above California on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Golden Hills’ lead shrinks
Golden Hills is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, but 45% of the 9,208 towns with similar household incomes ($72K–$120K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. 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 Golden Hills’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Golden Hills’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Golden Hills is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, #446 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 75% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 25%).
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). Golden Hills’ median household income is $95,669; among the 9,208 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$120K), it’s healthier than 45%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Golden Hills adults…
Golden Hills runs above CA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Golden Hills
1 hospital in Golden Hills, 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 Golden Hills; ≈ 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.
10 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Golden Hills adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Golden Hills adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Golden Hills runs above California.
1 in 3 Golden Hills 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.
13.3% of Golden Hills adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Golden Hills and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Hills | B | 32.1% | 11% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Tehachapi | C+ | 35.2% | 11.5% | 15.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Golden Hills adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Golden Hills
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Golden Hills is better than California on 6 and worse on 6; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Golden Hills’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Golden Hills | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20%17.3–22.6 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.4–15.9 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.3–20.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.1%26.8–37.4 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.5–12.6 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.1%29.6–36.6 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%31.4–38.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.3%22.5–28.3 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.9–9.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.4%5.5–7.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.3–12.7 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.4–14.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23%19.3–26.7 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.8%15–20.8 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7%30–39.8 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.6–9.6 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.2%70.8–77.4 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.2%63–69.4 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.7–88.2 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.1%68.8–75.2 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.7%61–70.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.4%70.7–83.3 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.1–27.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%29.2–38 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%21.7–28.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%11.4–16 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.4–14.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.8–7.9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7–9.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.3%11.1–15.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.1%28–36.1 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%12.8–16.9 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.2–17 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.3–9.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 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 Golden Hills
Is Golden Hills a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Golden Hills is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #446 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 45%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Golden Hills?
CDC estimates 32.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.8% and 37.4%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Golden Hills?
Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley in Tehachapi, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Golden Hills’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Golden Hills have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–9.6%), 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 Golden Hills 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 Golden Hills.
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.